TUESDAY 31TH JANUARY 2023

PDP PCC: Atiku’ll Grant Nnamdi Kanu Unconditional Release If Elected President Insists he has blueprint to restore peace in South-east Ex-VP says Tinubu’s constant gaffes tragic, embarrassing

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) in the February election, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday stated that he plans to grant detained leader of the Indigenous

People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, unconditional release if he emerges as Nigeria’s leader.

Kanu has been in the detention

facility of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021 when he was intercepted and ‘renditioned’ to Nigeria from Kenya by the federal

government.

Confirming Atiku's plan, Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of Atiku/Okowa

campaign in Anambra State, Prof.

Obiora Okonkwo, said the PDP Continued on page 10

INEC: We Plan to Declare Election Results Swiftly... Page 8 Tuesday 31 January, 2023 Vol 28. No 10156. Price: N250

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Protesters Barricade Roads, Stone Buhari’s Helicopter in Kano President: Nigeria's situation far better than other countries Urges citizens to appreciate what they have Inaugurates Dala inland dry port, NSIA’s 10mw solar plant, 469 family housing units, other projects in Kano PDP condemns attack on president Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Angry youths in Kano yesterday staged protests following President Muhammadu Buhari's official visit

to the state.

The youths who were carrying sticks, THISDAY gathered

were throwing stones at Buhari’s helicopter, were however dispersed by security agents who fired shots

in the air to scare them away.

This was just as the president compared the situation in Nigeria

with that of other countries and conContinued on page 10

Osinbajo Backs Push for Cashless Economy, Says It Will Curb Illicit Election Financing CBN harps on banks’ cooperation to enhance cash swap Ensure success of polls, UN charges lawyers EU to deploy 100 election observers NBA apologises to Nigerians for abdicating leadership role, sets agenda for presidential candidates FG welcomes US visa ban on Nigerians undermining democracy Deji Elumoye, Alex Enumah, Michael Olugbode, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has declared that the drive for a cashless policy in the country would go a long way to curb illicit election financing in the country.

Osinbajo’s remarks came just as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) appealed to banks and members of the public to cooperate with the apex bank to enhance the cash swap policy ahead of the fresh deadline for the return of the old N200, N500 and N1,000 banknotes.

This was just as the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Group, Ms. Amina Mohammed, yesterday charged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to ensure the success of the Continued on page 10

INAUGURATING THE NSIA SOLAR PLANT...

L-R: Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Mr. Farouk Gumel; President Muhammadu Buhari; Governor of Kano State, Dr. Umar Ganduje, and Ministerof Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed during the official inauguration of the 10 Megawatt Kano Solar Plant in Kumbotso, Kano State... yesterday

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

COURTESY VISIT TO LAGOS HOUSE, MARINA...

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; wife of the President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Mrs Grace Adesina and her husband, Mr Akinwunmi Adesina, during a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Marina, Lagos... yesterday

World Bank Releases $200m to Boost Vocational Education as ITF Unveils Framework for Apprenticeship James Emejo in Abuja The Director General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mr. Joseph Ari, yesterday unveiled a blueprint for the National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System (NATS) to institutionalise and boost skills acquisition in the country.

This was just as the World Bank Senior Education Specialist, Mr. Tunde Adekola, confirmed that the Bretton Woods institution had released the sum of $200 million to the federal government towards enhancing vocational skills education in Nigeria.

Both spoke at the official launch of the framework for NATS in Abuja.

Adekola said the World Bankassisted education project, known as Innovative Development for Effectiveness and Acquisition of Skills in Nigeria, came as a result of the federal government's request for the support of technical and vocational education.

He explained that the programme was a federal government project in which the bank was supporting all federal technical colleges from the six geo-political zones, adding that the money had been disbursed to the government in full.

According to him, the fouryear ‘Innovative Development for Effectiveness and Acquisition of Skills,’ programme which is currently in its second year, covers

four different areas, stressing that money had already been released to the government.

Ari, nevertheless, said the framework would add value to the federal government’s policy on the socio-economic and political plan to create jobs and wealth.

He said the fund decided to tow the path of apprenticeship in order to accelerate and escalate the provision of skills to Nigerians.

He said, “If you take a look at our population, there's a need to do something fast to create more jobs, and wealth through the provision of skills.

“The plan is to go back to the apprenticeship scheme. We have had an informal apprenticeship scheme in Nigeria. If you look at the Ibo culture where an apprentice stays with his master and at the end of the training, he is settled and set up on his own.

“But this is a new trend all over the world – most of the developed nations of the world are where they are on account of such apprenticeship schemes. I gave an example of the German- dual system; it is leveraged on apprenticeship.”

He said the framework was a more contemporary approach where we are, “collaborating with foreign partners to see how we can learn new trends, and see how we can domesticate it in Nigeria and create more jobs for our people

by equipping them using the apprenticeship model.”

The ITF boss added that with the lunch of the blueprint, the country was steadily evolving measures and gaining appreciable traction in its collective efforts to effectively deploy skills acquisition as a vehicle for combatting unemployment, reducing poverty, and overall growth and development of our dear country.

He said for the fund to meaningfully drive the apprenticeship

vision, it became imperative to partner like minds including the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the umbrella body of the Organised Private Sector (OPS), and internationally, the Skills for Prosperity (S4P) UK. He stressed that the framework, if implemented, has the potential to drastically reduce unemployment while also affording the youths the opportunity to earn income while learning; enhance eligibility for

The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has said the Muslim Muslim ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would polarise the country along religious and tribal lines.

Dogara, who was a keynote speaker during the Arewa Christian Indigenous Pastors Association day of prayers, awards and book dedication/launch at Evangelical Church of West Africa, in Jos, Plateau State, urged Nigerians to reject the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,

saying his ticket was against the unity of the country.

Underscoring the importance of not comprising competence and character in the election of Nigeria's president, Dogara said Tinubu had a lot of baggages that would make him a foreign asset should he become the next president to the detriment of the people.

He said: "The crucial role we can play as Christians is to examine the character of the candidates running for offices especially the highest office in the country and disavow those of them that we know are not a reflection of our

social vices, and crime rates, as well as improvement in the quality of services of technicians and craftsmen.

Among other things, he said above all, enriching the National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System with international certification for the various vocational trades will promote balanced employment and competition among youths, and serve as a viable source of foreign earnings for the country through the export of skills.

Buhari Commended for Support, Commitment to ECOWAS Court laments poor enforcement of its decisions

Alex Enumah in Abuja The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his constant support and commitment to the union as well as the ECOWAS institutions in Nigeria.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, made the commendation yesterday, during

the inauguration of the new seat of the ECOWAS Court of Justice in the Gudu area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The new office is a temporary location for the ECOWAS, pending the completion of the new headquarters of the Community Institutions in Abuja.

"Permit me to also reiterate our profound gratitude and appreciation to the Government of the Federal

Muslim-Muslim Ticket Will Polarise Nigerians along Religious, Tribal Lines, Dogara Insists Udora Orizu in Abuja

financial assistance while in training, and engage a sizeable number of youths since it does not require formal education as a prerequisite.

Ari maintained that a functional National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System would ensure a structured approach to skills acquisition and certification leading to an increase in the number of MSMEs and the expansion of existing ones, a reduction in unemployment, underemployment,

moral ethos.

“Some may say it is bitter politics, but it is not, because, anyone putting himself in a position to lead others has wittingly or unwittingly placed his character to be called to question.

“This is because without character, you cannot influence people and without influence, you cannot lead people. Once we know the truth, failure to declare the truth we know, is not virtue, but cowardice.

“Thanks to the leadership of CAN for long taking a stand against the Muslim - Muslim ticket of the APC mainly because it is

capable of polarising our politics along religious line. They wanted a balanced ticket so that all of us, Muslims and Christians in Nigeria will unite behind it to build a nation that works for all of us. But in addition to this, we now have many other reasons not to back the APC ticket.

"As a Scandinavian adage instructs us, ‘you may dress the shepherd in silk, but he will still smell of the goat.’ The more his handlers attempt to dress him in silk, the more he smells of the he-goat.

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Republic of Nigeria, especially to his Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, for his sustained support to the effective functioning of the Community Institutions in Nigeria.

“President Buhari just recently joined us in the ground breaking ceremony of our new Headquarters; we are very grateful for his support and personal commitment," Touray said.

According to the Commission's president, the new building represents a significant milestone in the history of the Community court as well as ongoing efforts at strengthening the Rule of Law and promotion of Human Rights in West Africa, adding that the court was established to ensure the protection of the rights and freedoms of the citizens of member states.

While observing that, "after 20 years, the ECOWAS Court is now positioned as pivotal judicial institution that inspires the confidence of litigants," Touray expressed confidence that the new office will provide the court with the necessary resources and facilities to function efficiently and effectively.

"It will enable the court to increase its capacity to hear cases, provide greater access to justice for citizens and promote Rule of Law in the region," he added.

Meanwhile, in a welcome ad-

dress, the President of the ECOWAS Court, Justice Edward Asante has lamented that the poor enforcement of the decisions of the Court has adversely affected whatever gains the court has been recording.

He said, "Unfortunately, the effectiveness of the court has been circumscribed by the poor enforcement of its decisions, which stands at about 30 per cent despite the court's impressive record of decisions and courage attributable to the independence and character of the judges."

He, however, acknowledged that the provision of the new office would resolve the present accommodation challenge, adding that the new office would challenge them to aspire to increase their performance and reflect the more congenial working environment.

"I wish to use this opportunity to reassure the Community of the determination of the court to live up to this expectation in order to strengthen its role as an important institution in the ECOWAS integration architecture with the primary responsibility for the promotion of community laws through the interpretation of Community text.”

He added that the court had contributed significantly to the promotion of regional peace and stability as good governance, transparency and accountability.

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NEWS

NBA STATE OF THE NATION DIALOGUE...

L-R: Chairman, Police Service Commission and Former Inspector General of Police, Dr Solomon Arase ; President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau,SAN, and Kebbi State PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN Governor, Atiku Bagudu, during the NBA State of the Nation Dialogue in Abuja...yesterday

Atiku Vows to Reverse Economic Woes as Moody’s Downgrades FG’s Credit Rating Bonds tumble after relegation Former VP promises to reconstruct railway, Bakalori dam, end banditry in Zamfara Rivers lawmaker says PDP candidate will solve Nigeria's woes James Emejo, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday lamented Moody's downgrade of the federal government’s credit rating from B3 to Caa1, describing it as a direct indictment of the failure of the political leadership in the management of the country's fiscal resources.

The former Vice President however promised to change the economic direction of the country for the better, if given the opportunity to lead.

Atiku, in a statement made available to THISDAY, vowed to undertake far-reaching fiscal restructuring to improve liquidity and the management of the fiscal

resources.

Moody’s in its downgrade highlighted the federal government’s deteriorating fiscal and debt position including the lack of capacity to respond to the same.

The rating agency further acknowledged the exacerbating policy trading-off between debt servicing and the financing of critical sectors, including education, health, and other social programmes as well as the government’s inability to curtail its addiction to deficit financing and its appetite for more funds from the CBN’s Ways and Means.

Consequently, the federal government bonds fell yesterday following last Friday’s downgrade.

Atiku however, insisted that the APC-led government lacked the critical competencies to initiate and implement innovative solutions

to the country’s problems and deliver on their mandate with the desired impact.

He also vowed to undertake an immediate review of government spending with a view to eliminating all leakages arising from subsidy payments.

He also vowed to stop all fiscal support to ailing and underperforming state-owned enterprises as well as take measures to improve spending efficiency by gradual reduction of government recurrent expenditures.

Atiku also promised to undertake a review of government procurement processes to ensure value for money and eliminate all leakages.

He said he would also focus on non-debt financing by promoting a private sector-led infrastructure development fund for the financing

and delivery of key infrastructure projects.

Describing Moody’s downgrade as “very significant”, Atiku said, “If given the opportunity to lead the country, I will act differently and change the economic direction of Nigeria for the better. I will undertake far-reaching fiscal restructuring to improve liquidity and the management of our fiscal resources…”

Reuters reported that longer-dated bonds were down the most, with the dollar-denominated 2051 Eurobond falling more than 2.8 cents in the dollar to 68.758 cents.

Only the Eurobond maturing this year fell less than one cent, it added.

Emerging Market Portfolio Manager at Abrdn, was quoted to have said, "That is a significant move because there will be a lot of forced selling. Pension funds don't like to

have names that are defaulting or even close to defaulting."

As the bond prices tumbled, the premium or 'spread' investors demanded to hold Nigerian debt rather than ultra-safe U.S. Treasuries jumped 46 basis points to 777 basis points.

Nigeria's bonds had outperformed other African and emerging market issuers over the last six months, according to JPMorgan.

According to Moody’s, "The review for downgrade focused on Nigeria's fiscal and external position and the capacity of the government to address the ongoing deterioration – other than by alleviating the burden of its debt through any form of default, including debt exchanges or buy-backs.

"Immediate default risk is low, assuming no sudden, unexpected events such as another shock or shift

We're Not Seeking Fresh N100bn Loan, Delta Govt Clarifies Omo-Julius Onabu in Asaba Delta State Government yesterday said contrary to the misinformation being allegedly peddled by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, it was not seeking fresh N100 billion loan as being alleged.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, stated this at a joint press conference with his Information counterpart, Charles Aniagwu and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Olisa Ifeajika in Asaba.

Tilije, recalled that the state government had earlier received an approval from the House of Assembly to obtain N150 billion bridging finance from the N240 billion accrued refunds to the state on the 13 per cent derivation policy.

He said the needed facility was later reduced to N100 billion by the state government after deliberation with finance houses involved in the arrangement.

According to him, after the discussion a new lead-finance-house emerged as against the one that was the leader at the time the House of Assembly gave the approval for the government to obtain the bridging finance facility.

Tilije, therefore, explained that with the emergence of a new

leading finance agent on the facility, and because of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s strict adherence to due process and law, "we went to the House of Assembly for a fresh resolution on their existing approval in line with prudential guidelines".

He said: "I am drawn into this because we are beginning to see some misconceptions, particularly with regards to the N100 billion discounting facility that the state has taken.

"I recall very vividly too that we have had news conferences where we said that the totality of the amount that we are trying to discount is still the same.

"We intended to take N150 billion as discounting facility from the market. But, when we reviewed the cash inflows, we reduced it to N100 billion.

"It is that same N100 billion that we have to go again to the House of Assembly last week because we found out that the lead agent of the said facility was not moving as fast as we want.

"So, all we did last week was to go back to the House of Assembly to seek their consent to enable us change the lead bank for that discounting facility.

"It is not a new loan, discounting facility nor a new bridging finance.

It is still the same N100 billion we have been talking about.

"I know that in certain other states, the need to go to the House of Assembly may not even arise.

This is because the responsibility of determining who is a lead agent in such a facility, lies squarely on the Executive.

"But, Governor Okowa, in his usual manner, felt that whatever alteration we are going to be making, we must still go back to the House of Assembly for consent.

"You will also recall too that

while we were here before to brief you on this matter, we itemised all the projects we will be doing with the facility, and we are on course with these projects.

"For those who do not have the details of the projects tied to this discounting facility, they can go to the House of Assembly. It is a public document."

On the other N20 billion facility, Tilije said it was a loan for an investment by the state government in a floating gas company to be situated in Warri.

He said the state government gave the company the condition of siting the company in Warri, before it could invest in the project.

The finance commissioner further said when completed, the project would provide jobs for citizens and increase the state’s internally-generated revenue.

On his part Aniagwu commended journalists in the state for being objective in their reportage of the government activities.

Continues online

in policy direction.”

At the same time, Atiku, in Zamfara, promised that his administration would reconstruct Bakalori Dam for the use of farmers in the state as well as end banditry in the state if elected, saying the only way to end banditry was by voting out the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government.

Atiku stressed that apart from the people of Borno and Yobe States, there was no other state that suffered the loss of people as a result of banditry apart from Zamfara state, and therefore condoled and sympathised with the people that have lost loved ones to banditry in the state.

"We pray that God will bring this to an end, but the end of it all is if God wills, it is to vote for PDP, because APC brought this evil in the last seven to eight years of its administration. They brought insecurity, poverty, and disunity; our youth are not going to school because teachers are not paid in secondary and tertiary institutions.

"With your vote, you will expunge them. I promised to restore peace and security in Nigeria. I have done it in the past. I see no reason why with your support and backing by the grace of God there won't be peace in Nigeria."

He also said his administration would collaborate with the state government to ensure the construction of railways in the state, as well as revive the closed down textile company.

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UBA Appoints Abiola Bawuah First Female CEO for Its Africa Operations Announces six other executive appointments, Oni retires from board The Board of Directors of the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), yesterday announced the appointment of Mrs. Abiola Bawuah as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UBA Africa.

Bawuah would also join the Group Board as an Executive Director, overseeing the Group’s operations across the African continent, outside Nigeria. UBA operates in 19 African countries beyond Nigeria, in addition to global operations in New York, London, Paris and the UAE. According to a statement,

Bawuah, a Ghanaian national, would be the first female CEO of UBA Africa.

It noted that her appointment further demonstrated UBA’s commitment to diversity.

The UBA Group Board now includes eight female Directors.

Prior to her appointment, Bawuah was Regional CEO, West Africa, supervising the Group’s operations in nine subsidiaries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. She previously held

the role of CEO, UBA Ghana.

Speaking on the new appointment, the Group Board Chairman Mr. Tony Elumelu, was quoted to have said: “Abiola has contributed significantly to the growth of UBA Africa for close to a decade. She brings a wealth of experience in commercial banking, and stakeholder engagement. It also gives me great pleasure that with her appointment, the UBA Group Board has now become a majority female board.”

The UBA Group also announced

the following executive roles: “Chris Ofikulu becomes the Regional CEO, UBA West Africa.

Ofikulu, who has over two decades of banking experience spanning corporate, commercialand retail banking.

“Uzoechina Molokwu will take on the role as Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of UBA Ghana, subject to local regulatory approvals.

He was previously the Executive Director, Business Development – UBA Côte d'Ivoire and has over 23 years banking experience.

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A NEW PRESIDENTIAL LODGE FOR SOKOTO...

L-R: PDP Vice Presidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state; Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, and host Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during the inauguration of the Sokoto state presidential lodge in Sokoto…recently

INEC: We Plan to Declare Election Results Swiftly Nigeria's improvement in electoral integrity since 1999 significant, says IFES Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it planned to declare election results swiftly as decided by Nigerians.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this yesterday when International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) delegation paid a visit to the commission's headquarters in Abuja, during which the IFES said Nigeria's improvement in electoral integrity since 1999 was significant.

Yakubu said the delegation came at a very auspicious time, just three weeks to the seventh general election in Nigeria since the restoration of democracy in 1999.

Having released the timetable for the election in February 2022 and having identified 14 activities, Yakubu noted that yesterday's meeting held when the commission was implementing the 12th activity, which was the publication of the notice of poll.

The INEC chairman said what it meant was that the commission had successfully implemented 12 out of the 14 activities on schedule, saying there were only two activities outstanding – campaign by political parties, and the election day.

He told the delegation that the commission, last Saturday, announced an extension for the

collection of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by registered voters.

"We believe that it is important for every Nigerian to have an ample opportunity to collect his or her PVC readiness for the election. And if extension of time is what we need to ensure that that happens, so be it and the commissioners granted the extension," he said, even as he appealed to Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the extension to ensure that they collected their PVCs. He further reassured the people of the commission's commitment to free, fair and credible election, saying the will of Nigerians would prevail.

Yakubu, who noted that the commission has made tremendous progress in terms of the delivery and acquisition of materials for the elections, said the largest chunk of materials required for the election – both sensitive and non-sensitive, were already at various locations.

"I think we're lucky. The preparation has gone on very well. And then with the benefit of the new Electoral Act, we have more time to prepare than our predecessors had in the past.

"We are working with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to make sure that we get logistics right; so that we deploy personnel and materials to locations early enough, so that we can open the

polling units conclude the processes at the polling units and quickly the declare outcome of the elections, as decided by Nigerians swiftly.

"The earlier we conclude the processes, the speedier we also declare winners and to conclude the processes earlier, we need to get to locations in good time.

"And tomorrow (today), we are going to meet with the National Union of Road Transport Workers.

We have invited their officials from all the states of the federation. They are holding a meeting here in Abuja, we are going to speak to them. We

The Faculty of Health Sciences Usman Danfodio University (UDUS) and other research institutes in Nigeria have developed new drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 virus.

Briefing journalists at the Centre for Advanced Medical research and Training (CAMRET) of the university, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Sonny Echono said it was another breakthrough in medical research in the country.

Echono disclosed that the drugs are still at clinical trial and would soon be released for the treatment of COVID19 Virus.

He maintained that TETFUND was ever ready to support any individual, institution ready to carry out viable research.

On his part, the Vice Chancellor, Usman Danfodio University, Prof.

Bilbis Lawal, said Lassa fever and COVID-19 have posted challenges to the whole world.

He stated that presently, there was no vaccine for Lassa fever.

"This Lassa fever is our problem and nobody will fix it for us we have to do it ourselves,” he added.

He explained that UDUS has collaborated with Nigeria' Medical research institute (NMRI) Yaba, Lagos; National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom; National Chemical Research

Africa put together," Yakubu said.

Earlier, President of IFES, Mr. Anthony Banbury, said the organisation has been working in Nigeria in support of INEC efforts since 1999, adding that, Nigeria's leadership in Africa and indeed around the world was an inspiration to people in consolidated and struggling democracies.

His words: "What happens in this country impacts struggles for democracy throughout the continent, and indeed, I would say every region of the world. In 2023, the work of the INEC and actions of the voters

of Nigeria will constitute the most significant election anywhere in the world this year.

"When one looks at the record, from a technical perspective, of what Nigerians have accomplished to strengthen their democracy since the 1999 constitution, it's very significant. And there are a few countries anywhere in the world that could point to such a proud record of achievement in the field of democracy and electoral integrity in what is after all a very short period.

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PENGASSAN: Marketers Creating Artificial Petrol Scarcity in Nigeria Says no justification for prohibitive pump prices Civil society shuts down Edo, demands reactivation of state petroleum monitoring unit Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) yesterday said there was no justification for the current

UDUS, Other Research Institutes Develop New COVID-19 Drugs Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

are good to go, basically on this."

Yakubu explained that on February 9, the commission would commence the training of election duty staff, adding that the electoral body would also engage a large number of ad hoc staff for the election.

"The country is huge. The delimitation details also really huge. I've said this over and over again that with 93 million registered voters in Nigeria, that's the figure for the 2023 general election. We have 16.7 million more registered voters than the other 14 countries in West

Institute Technology (NACRIT) Zaria, and University of Jos, to form vaccine consortium.

He further disclosed that while UDUS was tasked with the design and construction of DNA Vaccine candidates, NMRI was to design and construct a peptide sub unit vaccine candidate, and NARCT was to develop the vehicle for the delivery of the vaccines.

In addition, researchers from the University of Jos were to carry out preclinical trials of the vaccines candidates, and NVRI was to upscale the production of all the vaccine candidate developed.

Also, TETFUND was to provide grant of N450 million for the research.

high prices of petrol in the country, blaming marketers for creating what it termed artificial scarcity.

While empathising with Nigerians on the hardship currently being faced with the scarcity and the drastic hike in the price of petrol, the union stressed that if appropriate actions were not taken soon, it would announce the next line of action for its members.

In a statement released by PENGASSAN, it urged the industry regulator, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to take drastic steps to halt the current trend.

“The national leadership of PENGASSAN has been following up with our members in NNPC Trading Limited who are responsible for assigning the products to marketers and our teeming members from NMDPRA in various depots and terminals across the country.

“They are also responsible for issuing cargo clearance, monitoring compliance, routine inspection, metering calibration/maintenance, accurate delivery to trucks, record keeping, etc. There is the need for them to carry out their functions expeditiously.

“While we understand that the parameters imputed into the old PPPRA and now NMDPRA template

has since changed because of some economic vagaries such as exchange rate fluctuation, vessel hiring cost and cost of diesel, amongst others, there is no sufficient justification for petrol to be selling for such highly inflated price, thereby subjecting the masses to further difficulties,” it stated.

PENGASSAN stated that even though there were some good marketers who tend to play by the rules, others have become overly overbearing.

It noted that these persons have deployed methods of creating artificial scarcity in order to hike the price of the product uncontrollably as the product now sells for between N185 to N650, depending on location and outlet.

“From data available to us from our members, there are over 30 days petrol sufficiency in the country; hence there is no basis for the current scarcity and hardship that Nigerians are being subjected to.

“We hereby call on the management of NMDPRA to compel all marketers and retailers to make the products available at approved price.

They should immediately mobilise all their staff in various locations across the country to monitor compliance and anyone found wanting, should have their licenses revoked

to serve as deterrence,” it added.

Should the collusion go on unchecked, PENGASSAN stated that will not hesitate to partner with other stakeholders in ensuring that Nigerians are not further exploited.

Meanwhile, civil society organisations in Edo State, yesterday, shut down the state in protest over scarcity and high cost of fuel in the state.

They pleaded with the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to reactivate the State Petroleum Monitoring Unit in order to curtail the astronomic rise of the commodity in the state.

The protesters who were made up of different civil society organisations, including Edo Civil Societies Organisation, Faculty of Peace, among others blocked the Ring Road, Sapele Road, Sakponba Road from traffic, singing solidarity songs.

Speaking, at the Edo State House of Assembly, the President, Faculty of Peace, Edo State, Ken Okunbo said: "From our investigation, major marketers are selling fuel in Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and other cities, but in Edo State every fuel due to the state is diverted, the scarcity in Edo is hitting us hard.

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DSS, EFCC Intercept Racketeers of Redesigned Currency, Say Bank Officials are Involved Warn financial institutions to desist from sharp practices or face prosecution Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Department of State Security (DSS) said yesterday that it intercepted a syndicate involved in the sale of the newly redesigned currency notes.

In the same breath, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said that in separate opera-

tions in the Zone 4 and Dei Dei axis of the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday, January 28, and Monday, January 30, 2023, it nabbed members of a syndicate of currency racketeers hoarding and trading with the redesigned naira notes.

A statement issued by DSS said its investigation revealed that officials of some commercial banks were

complicit in the illegal business.

"The DSS hereby informs the public that it has intercepted some members of organised syndicates involved in the sale of the new redesigned naira notes.

"In the course of its operations, in this regard in parts of the country, it was also established that some commercial bank officials are aiding

the economic malfeasance," it stated.

The agency, therefore, warned currency racketeers to steer clear of the business or face the wrath of the law.

"Consequently, the service warns the currency racketeers to desist from this ignoble act. Appropriate regulatory authorities are, in this same vein, urged to step up monitoring and

PDP PCC: ATIKU’LL GRANT NNAMDI KANU UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE IF ELECTED PRESIDENT candidate will rely on the Appeal Court judgement to release the Biafra agitator.

According to Okonkwo, the appellate court was very explicit that Kanu should be a free man and no court can try him again for the alleged offence.

The PDP chieftain also disclosed that one of Atiku’s key programmes would be to ‘instil permanent peace’ in parts of the country especially the South-east region.

To achieve this, he said Atiku would release all South-east agitators in detention and ensure that the tension in the region is doused.

He, therefore, urged the people of the zone to throw their weight behind the PDP candidate to win the February 25 poll, knowing that he has in mind the best interest of the region.

“I am saying this with every sense of responsibility that Atiku will grant Nnamdi Kanu unconditional release. That is in Atiku's agenda for permanent peace in the Southeast. In addition, he will also apply political solution to release all those genuine IPOB agitators in detention without trial.

"Atiku’s government will have serious talks with the group and others, with the view to restoring their faith in the country, and make them part of the effort for better Nigeria.

However, the criminal elements will be dealt with decisively.

"What we are now therefore saying is for this to happen, peace must reign for election in the South-east, and the need for the South Easterners to fall behind PDP,"he said.

With this plan, Atiku, he noted is the only candidate that has a plan to address the situation in the South-east, to the benefit of the region and country generally.

Meanwhile, Atiku yesterday stated that the constant gaffes of his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Bola Tinubu, which started as a comic relief was slowly becoming a tragedy and an embarrassment to Nigeria.

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku pointed out that since Tinubu declared his intention to contest, he had made over 20 gaffes publicly.

He stated that these gaffes, which have provided online skit makers with comic content, are no longer a laughing matter but a tragic embarrassment to a nation in dire need of salvation.

The statement came against the backdrop of Tinubu’s speech at a rally in Akwa Ibom State, where he said that he made Atiku the Senate President. But Atiku stated that it was on record that he has never contested any legislative election.

“I make bold to say that, apart from his questionable background and records, Tinubu’s endless gaffes and miscues are effects of his failing health. His degenerate mental faculty is a clear and present danger to national security. A man who lacks clear control of his mental faculties cannot lead a nation.

“But this would not be the first time the so-called Lagos godfather would put his ignorance on national display. Some months ago, he said he planned on recruiting 50 million youths into the Nigerian Army in order to solve the unemployment problem. Sadly, those within his circle gave him a standing ovation at the event in Kano rather than correct him.

“Next, he called on Nigerians

to go and renew their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as they would expire ahead of the election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had to swiftly issue a statement after Tinubu’s utterance began causing panic in the polity.

“Tinubu at his Lagos rally asked Nigerians to get their APV in order to vote for APC when even primary school children know that the PVC (Permanent Voter Card) is the only item that admits a voter into a polling unit,” Atiku stated.

The statement noted that if Tinubu were contesting for the position of ‘Grand Comedian of the Federal Republic (GCFR)', his gaffes would have been appropriately classified as jokes, noting that for the fact that he is running for the most exalted office in the land, the gaffes must not be overlooked.

“Imagine Bola Tinubu with a demeanour similar to that of comedian Klint da Drunk representing Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly. Let us imagine him making such gaffes at meetings with world leaders. Nigeria would become the butt of jokes across the world.

“Nigerians must note that the Bola Tinubu who served as governor from 1999 to 2007 is different from the Bola Tinubu of today. The Bola Tinubu of today lacks the capacity to lead a nation of 200 million people most of whom are living in abject poverty,” Atiku declared.

He argued that the matter is really not about Tinubu’s age since many leaders across the world are also advanced in age, explaining that

it is about his mien, his utterances and faux pas.

“These are things that can no longer be ignored. In a bid to deceive the electorate, Tinubu and his allies have been saying that what Tinubu lacks in physical capacity, he makes up for it in intelligence because presidency of Nigeria is not wrestling but brain work.

“But sadly, it seems Tinubu’s physical strength is actually superior to his mental capacity, going by his numerous embarrassing utterances.

Last Christmas, comedian Sabinus, based his entire stage performance on Tinubu’s many gaffes. The audience that gathered were almost rolling

on the floor.

“On the surface, this might be funny but when one considers the fact that Tinubu is the candidate of the ruling party, it becomes all the more tragic. Tinubu’s handlers know about his declining mental capacity hence their refusal to let him attend debates or live interviews,” the statement added.

It said that the handlers of Tinubu who are now acting like a cabal believe that if he gets into Aso Rock, he will have the best medical attention while he will delegate important activities of state to them.

Continues online

supervisory activities to expeditiously address the emerging trends," the statement signed by the Spokesman of the agency, Dr. Peter Afunanya stated.

The DSS disclosed that the service ordered its commands and formations to further ensure that all persons and groups engaged in the illegal sale of the notes are identified.

"Therefore, anyone with useful information relating to this is encouraged to pass the same to the relevant authorities," it said.

Meanwhile, the EFCC stated that in separate operations in the Zone 4 and Dei Dei axis of the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday, January 28, and Monday, January 30, 2023 nabbed members of a syndicate of currency racketeers hoarding and trading with the redesigned naira notes.

It stated in a statement, that the operation followed intelligence on activities of unscrupulous currency speculators who were exploiting desperate citizens by offering them the new naira notes for foreign currencies at below the going rate.

"The anti-graft agency said the

suspects made useful statements, including disclosure that they were acting in cohort with some unscrupulous officials of money deposit banks," it added.

The commission said it would extend the operation to all the major commercial centres of the country until all the syndicates involved in the illegal trade were demobilised.

"Financial system operators are also warned to desist from the sharp practices or risk arrest and prosecution", it said.

The statement noted that zonal commanders of the EFCC also met with officials of various banks in their commands in an effort to ascertain the volume of the new notes issued to the commercial banks and how the banks were dispensing the monies to their customers.

The commanders urged the financial market operators to ensure compliance with the guidelines set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) while disclosing that they had dispatched operatives across their commands to monitor the level of compliance by banks and other operators in the financial market.

PROTESTERS BARRICADE ROADS, STONE BUHARI’S HELICOPTER IN KANO cluded that the country's condition was not as bad as being portrayed by some people.

The mammoth protesting youths were chanting "ba mu so" (we don't want) as they set a bonfire of tires along Hotoro Road where the president had left after commissioning the Muhammadu Buhari Interchange.

The protest came few days after a similar incident occurred in Katsina, the president’s hometown.

Reports have it that some sections of all the four major roads leading the newly constructed Muhammadu Buhari Interchange Flyover were closed for two days in anticipation of the president’s visit. In video clips circulated on social media, other youths were seen throwing pebbles at the president’s helicopter.

The Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) yesterday condemned the incident in its entirety.

However, speaking yesterday, at a State Banquet in Kano, to conclude his one-day official visit to the State after inaugurating several projects executed by the federal and state governments and the private sector, the president, according to a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, stressed that, "we have a great country but we do not appreciate it until we visit our neighbors and other countries where the preoccupation is for people to have one good meal a day.

Speaking in Kano, Buhari said: “When I fly by helicopter, the number of high-rise buildings I see and the amount of development on the ground are fantastic. We thank God.” Buhari described ongoing

infrastructure development across the country as “fantastic”, urging citizens to appreciate what they have as the situation in the country is not dire when compared with other countries.

He urged the elites to encourage and inspire young people to embrace education, saying, "whether we like it or not we are going to leave the country for them. ‘‘They must embrace education for education’s sake. Technology has made it possible for short cuts but nothing can replace real learning.

Please encourage the children to learn.”

He congratulated Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State for doing very well on infrastructure, adding that his recent state visits to Kogi, Yobe, Lagos and Katsina showed that the respective governors

have done very well, within the confines of funds available to them.

On security, the president, who described Boko Haram as a fraudulent organisation with links to international groups bent on destroying Nigeria, said his administration had succeeded in decimating the terror group, limiting their capacity to inflict harm.

Earlier, while paying homage to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, Buhari urged Nigerians to respect traditional institutions and accord them the honour they deserve.

The president, who also inaugurated the Emir’s Council Chambers at the Palace, said of the traditional institution: ‘‘This system is good.

It is good in the sense that our traditional institutions are respected Continued on page 35

OSINBAJO BACKS PUSH FOR CASHLESS ECONOMY, SAYS IT WILL CURB ILLICIT ELECTION FINANCING 2023 general elections.

Mohammed, who gave the charge in a keynote address she delivered at the State of the Nation Dialogue, also tasked the umbrella body of lawyers in the country, to device mechanism that would effectively manage conflicts that may arise from the conduct of the elections which commences on February 25 with the presidential and National Assembly polls.

Also, the Chief Observer, European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission (EOM) for Nigeria’s general election, Mr. Barry Andrews, yesterday appealed to stakeholders to ensure that the upcoming elections were peaceful, free and fair. He also disclosed that 40 observers would be deployed by the mission to observe the forthcoming elections in all the states of the country.

Osinbajo submitted that when fully operational, the cashless policy being introduced in Nigeria could help stem the surge of illicit election financing by making it possible to track funds.

Speaking yesterday, while playing host to a delegation of the European Union Election Observation Mission led by Andrews, who is also a member of the European Parliament, at the State House, Abuja, Osinbajo noted that so much money could be spent without it being tracked under the current election financing system in the country.

According to him: “I think that what we should be looking at is to provide more infrastructure. The cashless thing has been really advantageous and helps with tracking.

That sort of infrastructure is useful for more financial inclusion and the more financial inclusion you have,

the easier it is to track.”

While noting the serious difficulty in controlling election financing because of cash transactions, the vice president stated that there were still infrastructure issues required to be in place to ensure an efficient cashless system in the country.

He observed that with cash transactions, it was still difficult to seriously control election financing.

On the issue of electoral offences, Osinbajo pointed out that there was the Electoral Offences Commission Bill at the National Assembly and, "we hope that it will begin a new regime of dealing with electoral offences which would be helpful.”

He emphasised that by and large, one shouldn’t expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be the investigator of electoral offences.

“I think that law enforcement agencies should be responsible for arresting and prosecuting offenders, state by state.

“Electoral offences are always seen through a political prism; people will always feel that they are being prosecuted because they belong to a certain party.

“What is more important is that we have to find a system where the police could have a special unit for offences during the course of elections. The Federal High Courts could also have a special jurisdiction to deal with offences and not extend beyond the Federal High Courts,” he added.

Commenting on the role of the judicial system, the vice president noted that more attention should be paid to the monitoring of tribunals and their outcomes, calling for more scrutiny from the National Judicial Council.

He disclosed that there were discussions in the past concerning malfeasance on the part of some judges, saying those found guilty should be brought to the fore.

His words: “There should be sanctions and that way, we would be able to clean up and correct some of the problems”.

In his remarks, Andrews disclosed that the Observer Mission would be monitoring the elections coming up next month, saying he anticipated a peaceful and fair electoral process.

According to him, “this is the seventh time INEC is inviting the EU Mission to monitor the elections,” adding that the team has been in the country since 11th January and would be here till the end of March, 2023.

The EU EOM Chief Observer urged authorities, candidates and political parties in Nigeria to ensure that the upcoming general elections are peaceful and further electionrelated violence is prevented. Every voter has the right to cast their ballot in a safe environment free from intimidation and undue influence.

“We encourage the authorities, candidates, and political parties to commit to peaceful conduct prior to, during and after election day.

Cooperation between all institutions and parties participating in the elections is crucial. The presence of a level playing field, freedom of expression, assembly and association, respect for human rights and a neutral and independent election management body at all levels are all essential for democratic elections.”

Andrews said the mission would also study the new electoral law and interact with the stakeholders on the challenges ahead.

He said the 2022 electoral act

which introduced new measures aimed at enhancing various aspect of the conduct would be closely followed to monitor its implementation.

The Chief observer explained that the mission had met with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and had so far seen that Nigeria was prepared for the 2023 election During his four-day visit to Nigeria, the Chief Observer has met with a wide range of interlocutors, including state authorities, INEC, political contestants, members of the judiciary, media stakeholders, citizen observers as well as other civil society representatives to discuss the ongoing electoral process.

He noted that the Electoral Act 2022 has introduced new measures aimed at enhancing various aspects of the conduct of elections. As part of its overall analysis, the EU EOM would closely follow its implementation. For the first time in Nigeria, the mission has a dedicated Election Technology Analyst who is assessing the use of technologies, especially the verification of voters and the transmission of results. A media analyst and a social media analyst are also undertaking an assessment of the role of the traditional media, as well as social media and digital communication during the process.

The EU EOM started its work nearly three weeks ago with the arrival of a core team of 11 experts with competencies in various aspects of elections.

Since 29 January 40 long-term observers in teams of two follow the electoral process in all the states of Nigeria. Seven Members of the European Parliament, together with some 40 locally recruited observers from 25 EU Member

States, Switzerland, Norway, and Canada’s representatives in Nigeria were expected to join the mission shortly before election day.

In total, around 100 observers would observe the voting, counting, and tabulation procedures on 25th February and 11th March, he disclosed.

The EU EOM would issue a preliminary statement two days after each election day and would remain in Nigeria until the completion of the entire electoral process including complaints and appeals processes, and any possible second round of the presidential election.

The EU EOM has been deployed by the EU following an invitation from INEC. All mission members are bound by a code of conduct, which requires strict impartiality and non-interference in the elections.

Oher members of the delegation included Ambassador, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Samuela Isopi and Deputy Chief Observer, EU Election Observation Mission, Mr. Thomas Boserup.

CBN Harps on Cooperation of Banks to Enhance Cash Swap

The CBN has called for the cooperation of banks and members of the public for effective cash swap policy.

The CBN Director of Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, made the appeal while fielding questions from journalists in Umuahia, after touring Abia hinterlands to monitor the availability of the new banknotes through cash swap.

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Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

Buhari’s Inauguration of Katsina Projects Amid Youth Protests Francis Sardauna writes about last week’s visit by President Muhammadu Buhari to Katsina state and events that unfolded during the two-day official visit

Buhari

Masari

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari last week embarked on a two-day official visit to his home state of Katsina where he inaugurated some selected legacy projects executed by the state government, including a 400-tons per day capacity producing Darma Rice Mill, constructed by Alhaji Dahiru Bara’u Mangal, a Katsina-based business mogul.

The President who flew-in from Daura, his hometown, began his official duty in the state by inaugurating the Kofar Kaura Underpass, Katsina Water Supply Booster Station, Revenue House, Kofar Kwaya Underpass, remodelled Katsina General Hospital and Metrological Institute of Science and Technology (MIST),

Katsina (Federal).

He inspected the state’s first flyover at the Government Reserved Area, which is at 90 per cent completion stage.

Shortly after he inaugurated the projects for the first day, Governor Aminu Bello Masari and other top government officials led the president inside the Banquet hall of the Government House for a luncheon.

Addressing dignitaries at the luncheon, President Buhari berated the Nigerian elites, describing them as self-centered. He accused

them of not thinking about the welfare of the people.

The president bemoaned what he referred to as the self-centered attitude of many Nigerians, advising that things would be much better for governments in the country if they thought more about the people.

He regretted the amount of money that was wasted by previous governments recalling how a barrel of crude oil sold consistently for $100, yet not deployed towards building infrastructure.

Buhari said: “Our elites did not put their heads together in the years past in order to move the country forward. They were very selfish. I insist that they should think of the

country more than themselves. By doing so, they can join forces for the good of the country.”

The President affirmed that security and economy are the core essence of government, saying citizens do not care how they are realised “but I can’t complain because I asked for it. I have done my best, and I hope history will be kind to me.”

He, however, commended Governor Masari for his administration’s infrastructure drive amid scarce resources, describing the effort as worthy of emulation by other governors.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

How BVAS Exposed Over-voting During 2022 Gubernatorial Poll in Osun Ismail Omipidan analyses the recent judgement delivered by Osun State Election Petition Tribunal which upturned the election of the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, as the governor of the state during the July 22, 2022 gubernatorial poll

W

hen in August 2022, I announced to the whole world that in Osun state, my Principal, Adegboyega Oyetola, did not lose the July 16, 2022 Governorship election, but only lost the vote count, some Nigerians, especially sympathisers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were furious. They called me names. But they could not marshall any reasonable argument to disprove my position.

So, last Friday’s judgement of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal, for me, is a vindication of my position prior to the 2018 governorship election that majority of Osun citizens, who are reasonable, knowledgeable and who value education could not have voted for a man, who is better known as a ‘dancecraft’ Similarly, the outcome of the Tribunal is equally a vindication of my August 2022 postulation that we only lost the vote count and not the election.

Contrary to the claims of the interim Governor and his cohorts, three of the judges agreed on the fact that he forged his certificate, while two concurred that there was indeed over-voting in the July 16 Governorship election.

And in accordance with the Electoral Act, the invalid votes were separated from the valid ones and Oyetola was declared as the validly-elected Governor of Osun State.

Therefore, issue of “Member 1” and “ Member 2” being propounded by Senator Ademola Adeleke, Kolapo Alimi and the rest only exists in their imagination. It is a pity that the interim Governor does not know and those we thought should know ended up misleading the poor man.

In the lead judgement, which was over 90 pages, “we” featured prominently to indicate that the position reached were arrived at by two or more persons. Similarly, the dissenting judgement, which was just eight pages, “I”

Oyetola

Adeleke

featured prominently to indicate he was alone in that decision.

How Senator Ademola Adeleke’s men were able to confuse him that an eight-page judgement can be used to upturn an over 90 pages of sound and scholarly judgement, which are well grounded in law and facts, remains a mystery to me.

How the Tribunal arrived at its conclusion Before delving into how the Tribunal arrived at its conclusion, I wish to deal with the issue of forgery as established by the Tribunal.

Recall that Oyetola and APC approached the Tribunal on two fundamental grounds: One, that as at the time Senator Adeleke was contesting, he was not qualified.

Two, that he did not score the lawful

valid votes.

According to the Tribunal led by Justice Tertsea Kume, APC and Oyetola were able to prove forgery case against Governor Adeleke as EC9, which is the affidavit in support of personal particulars about the governor told “a lie about itself.”

The three justices of the Tribunal went further to hold that “clear reading of the above reproduced section of the Criminal Code and exhibit EC9 reproduced above reveals that EC9 tells a lie about itself. See ACN vs. Lamido (2011) LPELR-91741 (CA) 1 at 79 80 paras C- A, and 80 81 paras F- A. “In that regard, forgery of the said documents presented by the 2nd Respondent (Ademola Adeleke) to 1st Respondent (INEC) has been proved.

“The same consequence applies to FILE D in so far as the contents therein relate to ‘Osun State’ that was not in existence before 1991. See PDP v. Degi-Eremenyo (2021) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1781)

274 at 292 paras A-C cited by learned counsel for the Petitioners.”

The Tribunal Justices went further to hold as follows: “The question, however, is whether having found forgery in parts of exhibit EC9 and FILE D, the 2nd Respondent (Ademola Adeleke) is exonerated by exhibits 2R.RW6 and 2R.RW9. We think he is. It would have been otherwise if no other qualifying certificate of attendance at an institution had been presented to 1st Respondent for the election.”

As a layman, the mere fact that the Tribunal only says they “think,” shows that this is another potent pendulum that could swing against the interim Governor at the appellate court. Reason being that, the additional qualifications which were the basis of what I want to refer to as his temporary respite in the issue of qualification, was acquired using the O’Level that has been proven to be forged.

Therefore, if we go by the popular axiom, you cannot build something on nothing and expect it to stand. It goes without any further probing that the interim Governor is yet to be let off the hook as far as his qualification to stand for the election is concerned. He can be disqualified for submitting a forged document as contained in his file with INEC. But let’s go back to the issue of over-voting.

The Electoral Act is clear. To make a return as to the announcement of the results of election, the presiding officer must take into account what the BVAS transmitted, which is in the back end.

-Omipidan writes from Ila Orangun, Osun state NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

20 T H I S D AY TUESDAY JANUARY 31, 2023 TR

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Tuesday January 31, 2023 Vol 27. No 10154

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

THE KILLER JOB AT INEC ERIC TENIOLA writes the 2023 election is crucial to the image of the chairman of the electoral body

See page 21 UNDERSTANDING THE OBOREVWORI BRAND The Speaker of Delta House of Assembly is a consensus builder and unifier, contends JACKSON EKWUGUM

See page 21

EDITORIAL

28 STATES AND THE DEBT BURDEN

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For the APC Presidential Candidate, everything seems to be going wrong, reckons PAUL NWABUIKWU

TINUBU: BETWEEN DESPERATION AND DEGENERATION Ordinarily, the recent visit of APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the outgoing incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja was an opportunity for the ruling party to show a united front in the thick of a tough campaign and to GHPRQVWUDWH WKDW LW LV FRQÀGHQW RI YLFWRU\ GHVSLWH WKH HͿRUWV RI GHWHUPLQHG ULYDOV With the PDP candidate, former vice president Atiku Abubakar gathering momentum in the vote-rich north east and north west, and the disruptive campaign of Labour Party’s Peter Obi dominating social media and the opinion polls showing no signs of abating, it was critical for APC to show that it is still the powerful landlord of Nigerian politics and that its awful record ZRXOG QRW VWRS LWV YLFWRU\ %XW RI FRXUVH WKDW GLGQ·W KDSSHQ The anxious expressions of Tinubu and the three governors who accompanied the former Lagos governor on the visit – Aminu Masari of Katsina, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi and Babagana Zulum of %RUQR WROG WKH VWRU\ $ UREXVW GLVFXVVLRQ of strategies for impending victory was QRW RQ WKH DJHQGD RI WKH PHHWLQJ 5DWKHU according to multiple reports, the trip was a “face saving” one by Tinubu to apologize to Buhari for comments he made at a rally which have been widely interpreted as a direct attack of the president for approving the implementation of a major government policy: the ongoing currency UHGHVLJQ DQG FKDQJH RI WKH 1DLUD 7KRXJK Tinubu’s team has strenuously denied that interpretation, Tinubu’s quoted comments strongly indicate that the popular reading RI WKH ZRUGV LV TXLWH YDOLG His precise words were: “Hide the petrol, hide the naira, we will still vote! We will win… Even if you change the ink on naira QRWHV ZKDW \RX ZDQW ZLOO QRW KDSSHQ :H ZLOO ZLQ µ There are two clear conclusions from WKH VWDWHPHQW )LUVW DV DOUHDG\ LQGLFDWHG Tinubu blames the Central Bank for conceptualizing and executing the currency change project and Buhari for approving the idea and defending it despite strident SXEOLF FULWLFLVP RI LWV SRRU LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ The CBN’s failure to make enough of the new notes available within its own short deadline made its insistence on PDLQWDLQLQJ WKH GHDGOLQH YHU\ XQSRSXODU Second, Tinubu believes that the project LV WDUJHWHG DW KLP VSHFLÀFDOO\ WR VWRS KLP IURP ZLQQLQJ QH[W PRQWK·V SROOV 7KH VHFRQG SRLQW LV LQWULJXLQJ 7KH RQO\ explanation for Tinubu’s passion on the subject is that the currency change is a direct obstacle to his campaign strategy to massively deploy money especially among the rural and urban poor in the critical ÀQDO VWDJHV RI WKH FDPSDLJQ 7KHUH LV RI course, nothing new about using money

to change hearts and minds in order to LQÁXHQFH HOHFWLRQ UHVXOWV LQ 1LJHULD ,Q our democracy, elections and money are conjoined twins with no hope of separation for the foreseeable future because the blood, vital organs, arteries and veins of WKH WZR DUH WRR LQWULFDWHO\ LQWHUPLQJOHG Perhaps this phenomenon is best captured in pidgin English: “elections and moni for 1LJHULD QD ÀYH DQG VL[µ 6WLOO 7LQXEX·V RXWEXUVW LV VLJQLÀFDQW 1R other major presidential candidate in our recent history has gone public with his dissatisfaction because his plans to engage LQ HOHFWLRQ PDOSUDFWLFH DUH EHLQJ IUXVWUDWHG ,W LV QRW WKH NLQG RI WKLQJ WKDW \RX VSLOO while addressing your supporters – real or purchased – at a public event during D FDPSDLJQ (YHQ 0DÀD GRQV DQG GUXJ barons are not in the habit of announcing their bloody secrets to neighbours and SDVVHUVE\ $V 2VFDU :LOGH VDLG ´K\SRFULV\ LV WKH FRPSOLPHQW WKDW YLFH SD\V WR YLUWXHµ Human beings tend to keep silent about certain evil desires or actions because they know that the said desires and actions are, ZHOO ZURQJ The logical question then is: why did Tinubu engage in the kind of honesty usually associated with Catholics in the SULYDWH DQG FRQÀGHQWLDO FRQÀQHV RI WKH confession booth? So why didn’t he, an experienced veteran of many political wars who should know better, hold back?

To answer that question, let’s start with what we already know: win or lose, Tinubu has already made history as the most incoherent and physically fragile SUHVLGHQWLDO FDQGLGDWH LQ 1LJHULD·V KLVWRU\ 'HVSLWH WKH HͿRUWV RI KLV KDQGOHUV WR explain away or distract from his antics on the stump, it is clear that Tinubu is going through a horrendous process of physical DQG PHQWDO GHJHQHUDWLRQ WKDW LV DͿHFWLQJ KLV OLPEV DQG WRQJXH VLPXOWDQHRXVO\ 7KH man is in very poor physical and mental

VKDSH $OO WKH VLJQV RI DQ ROG PDQ ORVLQJ KLV IDFXOWLHV DUH IXOO\ RQ GLVSOD\ 7KH KRDUVH VKDN\ YRLFH WKDW WUDLOV RͿ VXGGHQO\ 7KH failure to hold on to a thread of thought LQ PLG VHQWHQFH 7KH VHDUFK IRU HYHQ WKH PRVW HOHPHQWDU\ PXQGDQH ZRUGV Perhaps most ominous is Tinubu’s sudden talent for spouting strange, indecipherable ZRUGV IRU DSSDUHQWO\ QR UHDVRQ %DODEOX LV the most famous but the worrisome list is JURZLQJ $QG WKH HͿRUWV WR KLGH WKH embarrassment are becoming more GHVSHUDWH 2Q WZR UHFHQW RFFDVLRQV ² DIWHU WKH &KDWKDP +RXVH ÀDVFR GXULQJ ZKLFK he shared questions to members of his delegation rather than answer them and a campaign stop in Kano – Tinubu declared a preference for dancing rather than talking and proceeded to entertain with some funky steps that recalled the Lagos ER\ RI KLV \RXWK +RSHIXOO\ WKH PXVFOHV for swaying and prancing will prove more durable than those responsible for FRPSUHKHQVLRQ DQG VSHHFK Bottom line: it is no surprise, given his challenges, that Tinubu doesn’t DOZD\V DSSUHFLDWH WKH GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ conspiratorial conversations with DVVRFLDWHV DQG FDPSDLJQ VSHHFKHV The second challenge Tinubu is grappling DUH IXQGDPHQWDO WR KLV WLFNHW 7KHUH LV QR escaping the reality that APC’s performance since 2015, to put it diplomatically, has been DZIXO $QG 1LJHULDQV DUH VWLOO H[SHULHQFLQJ WKH LPSDFW LQ UHDO WLPH 3RYHUW\ KLJK LQÁDWLRQ LQVHFXULW\ VSLUDOLQJ GHEW PDVV migration and brain drain are not easy WR GLVPLVV $QG WR ZRUVHQ PDWWHUV WKH party’s single faith ticket after eight years of serial mismanagement of the country’s diversity is making matters even worse IRU 7LQXEX $ GLYLVLYH WLFNHW GHPDQGV D divisive strategy and so the focus has been more on exploiting all available fault lines – ethnic, religious, regional – because there LV OLWWOH HOVH WR ZRUN LW $SDUW IURP PRQH\ RI FRXUVH 7LQXEX·V UDJH DW ORVLQJ WKH NH\ “bullion van advantage” in the midst of few and disappearing options can better EH XQGHUVWRRG LQ WKLV UHJDUG At the human level, it is sad to see Tinubu, arguably Nigeria’s most formidable political godfather ever, going through what should be a private ordeal DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK DJH DQG LOO KHDOWK LQ SXEOLF But the sadness is also mixed with anger DQG LPSDWLHQFH :KDW NLQG RI DPELWLRQ cynicism and inordinate pride would convince the man – and those egging him on – to embark on this unholy quest to force a sick and rickety president on a country facing serious, possibly existential problems?

Nwabuikwu is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

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ERIC TENIOLA writes the 2023 election is crucial to the image of the chairman of the electoral body

THE KILLER JOB AT INEC Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has a date with history in February. He will be the only Chairman of the Electoral Commission to conduct two presidential elections in Nigeria. He conducted the Presidential election on February 23, 2019. He will do the same on February 25 this year.

No doubt the February 25 election will make or mar him. If he succeeds, Professor Yakubu will go quietly and live the rest of his life in Kobi, his hometown,

in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi state or remain in Abuja like others. He may even go back to the University since that is his calling. He may decide to write a book since he is an author.

He has written more than three books already namely, CRISIS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA SINCE 1980, WESTERN EDUCATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES AND EMIRS AND POLITICIANS:REFORM, REACTION AND RECRIMINATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA. If on the other hand he fails, his remaining life, is better imagined. In the last few weeks, he has been assuring Nigerians that he will succeed. Words don’t always depict reality. The only way to make something happen is to make a WDQJLEOH DFWLRQ 6D\LQJ LW LV GLͿHUHQW IURP doing it. What you do is more important than what you say. Actions speak louder than words. We pay less attention to what Professor Yakubu and his team are saying but watch what he and his team will do.

For anyone who loves Nigeria must wish Professor Yakubu best of luck during and after the elections.

This is a country of over 200 million people whose lives must not be messed up by desperate politicians.

In ancient Greece, a young man asked Socrates the “secret to success”. Socrates told the young man to meet him at the nearest river the next morning.

Next morning, the young, being very determined to learn something from the great philosopher, was very prompt.

Socrates asked the young man to walk with him into the river. Wondering what Socrates was about to do, the young man was apprehensive. “Perhaps one of Socrates’ many philosophies”, the young man thought…The water was now up to their waist…

When the water got up to their neck, Socrates suddenly seized the young man by surprise and pushed him under the water. The boy struggled to get up but

Socrates, being a strong man, held him under the water until the boy started turning blue. Socrates pulled his head out RI WKH ZDWHU DQG WKH ÀUVW WKLQJ WKH \RXQJ man did was to gasp for air, and breathing desperately to stay alive. Socrates asked, “What did you want the most when you were down there?”

Still in shock, the young boy replied, “Air”.

Socrates remarked, “That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it. There is no other secret of success”.

But sometimes a successful conduct of an election does not necessarily guarantee stability. And this has happened to the past chairmen of the Nigeria’s electoral body. These past chairmen included Eyo Esua (1964–1966), Michael Ani (1976– 1979), Victor Ovie-Whiskey (1980–1983), Eme Awa (1987–1989), Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993), Okon Uya (1993, June-November), Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998), Ephraim Akpata (1998– 2000), Abel Guobadia (2000–2005), Maurice Iwu (2005–2010), Attahiru Jega (2010–2015) and Mahmood Yakubu (2015-present).

Let us take Chief Eyo Esua as an example. He was a teacher and trade XQLRQLVW +H ZDV WKH ÀUVW FKDLUPDQ of the Electoral body in the country.

Chief Esua was a school master and a founder member of the Nigeria Union RI 7HDFKHUV +H ZDV WKH ÀUVW IXOO WLPH general secretary of the union from 1943 till he was appointed Chairman of the HOHFWRUDO ERG\ +H ZDV DQ (ÀN &DODEDU man, renowned for his dedication to duty and uprightness. He did all he could to ensure a successful 1964 general election.

On December 29, 1964, the then President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe held a meeting in State House with the four Regional Premiers—Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola (West), Dr. Michael Okpara (East), Sir Ahmadu Bello (North) and Chief Dennis Osadebe (Midwest) and Governors and the Prime Minister-Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Ladoke Akintola declined to turn up. The Prime Minister announced after the meeting that it had been agreed the elections were to go ahead as planned. This was denied later by UPGA’s McEwen. The Electoral Commission announced that it was deadlocked on the question of the holding of the elections.

Two of its members, Mr. Aniegolu (East) and Mr. Akenzua (Mid-West) resigned. At that time, the regions were represented in the commission. UPGA said its boycott continued. Sit-down strike was called for by Mr. Wahab Omorilewa Goodluck, a leading unionist who later became the founding President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, but with apparently limited response. UPGA vans patrol Lagos announcing “Don’t vote.”

Sir Ahmadu Bello said that the President’s meeting in the State House was to discuss the secession of Eastern Nigeria from the Federation.

Teniola was a Director in The Presidency

The Speaker of Delta House of Assembly is a consensus builder and unifier, contends JACKSON EKWUGUM

UNDERSTANDING THE OBOREVWORI BRAND 7KH ÀUVW WLPH , PHW 5W +RQ 6KHULͿ Oborevwori, I was instantly drawn by KLV HEXOOLHQW SHUVRQDOLW\ ,W ZDV DQ R΀FLDO meeting and, contrary to what I was used to, he did not make me feel that I was before the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly. He did not try to intimidate me with his power, and he certainly did not try to belittle me. That left a strong impression on me and the story did not change in all our subsequent encounters.

In fact, he would not only signal to me in a crowd, he would make it a point of duty to give me a warm handshake or hug - with a broad smile to boot.

That is the essential Oborevwori ² DͿDEOH XQSUHWHQWLRXV DQG ODUJH hearted. Yet, for all his famed simplicity, accessibility, and humility, it would be a big mistake to take him for granted. The man is a study in self-belief. All great leaders through generations possess WKDW TXDOLW\ RI VHOI FRQÀGHQFH $QG Oborevwori impresses in that regard.

When in the run-up to the Delta State PDP gubernatorial primaries he positioned himself as the aspirant with the street credibility capable of winning an election, many thought it was a wrong strategy. But the man would not bulge and it did not take long for critics and supporters alike to realize that street credibility is actually a very positive socio-political concept, quite GLͿHUHQW IURP WKH PLVFRQFHSWLRQ RI LW DV D rough and tumble disposition.

One of the hallmarks of great leaders is that they act on instinct and embark on a course of action that those around would consider crazy or delusional. One of the greatest examples of an instinctive leader in the 20th century was Henry Ford. The story is frequently told of how, amid high worker turnover and declining sales in the automobile industry, Ford decided to do the unthinkable; he doubled his employees’ salaries. Peers and competitors called him “crazy” but within a year, productivity doubled and demand for cars increased because those ZRUNHUV ZHUH QRZ DEOH WR DͿRUG WKH FDUV his company manufactured. That is the hallmark of uncommon leaders; they see what others do not see, they embark on a course of action that is contrary to the facts on ground, and they take decisions that others may consider illogical. By following his intuition in the campaign leading to the primaries, Oborevwori manifested this unique attribute of game-changing leaders.

The man is very comfortable in his own skin. Indeed, his unassuming personae is what sometimes makes people to jump to wrong conclusions about him, which in turn leads them to underestimate him or misconstrue his modesty for weakness.

But it is preposterous to underrate a man who has the stellar reputation of being the longest serving Speaker of the House of Assembly. You do not achieve that feat by being a simpleton. At a time in the history of the House, they had three speakers in a space of two years. As some of us can testify, it is no mean task leading a group of peers and contemporaries such as Old Boys Associations or Estate Residents Association. Indeed, it is a powerful testament to Oborevwori’s people skills, managerial acumen, tact, and wisdom

that he could transit from one assembly to the other as Speaker. These are qualities, I believe, a multi-ethnic state like Delta needs in their next governor.

From Oborevwori’s impressive outing at the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally in Asaba it should be clear to all by now that the opposition is just grasping at straws with innuendoes about his public speaking skills. The PDP gubernatorial candidate may not be a garrulous person but he can certainly hold his own in public, as was quite evident in the Asaba rally and in the ward and local government campaigns. But as any good student of politics knows,

of which the Speaker is one, it takes more than oratorical skills to make a good leader. One can be fantastically gifted with oratorical prowess and be painfully lacking in the rudiments of governance or leadership skills. What sets Oborevwori apart, as we have seen from his leadership of the House, are his vision, tenacity of purpose, courage, wise planning, faith, integrity, and the ability to mobilise men and resources to achieve a common goal.

He is undoubtedly a consensus builder DQG XQLÀHU DQG WKHUHIRUH EHVW VXLWHG to advance Delta State to the next level of growth and prosperity.

By far Oborevwori’s biggest asset may be his tenderhearted nature which is ironically masked by his rugged mien and tough-guy image. During the signing of the 2023 Appropriation Bill into law by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in December last year, the Speaker, to the surprise of all present, was all emotions as he went down memory lane to recollect his unexpected rise to the pinnacle of leadership in the House.

It was such a moving spectacle as this battle-hardened political gladiator fought back tears while giving account of his stewardship. In Oborevwori, I can unequivocally say that Deltans KDYH D ÀQH EOHQG RI VWUHQJWK DQG service, courage and compassion, and IDLWK DQG ÀGHOLW\ Ekwugum is Manager, Communications to Governor Okowa

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EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

28 STATES AND THE DEBT BURDEN The states should be creative and become centres of productive activities

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he 2018 introduction of the World Bankassisted States Fiscal Transparency and Accountability Programme (SFTAS) was to nudge sub-national governments LQWR LPELELQJ ÀVFDO WUDQVSDUHQF\ DQG tame their appetite for indiscriminate borrowing. Unfortunately, the programme has not worked. If anything, recent statistics from the Debt 0DQDJHPHQW 2΀FH '02 SUHVHQW GLVWXUELQJ VLJQDOV that just as the government at the centre goes on a borrowing binge, the states are also neck-deep in debt accumulation.

Available reports indicate that no fewer than 28 state governors who are either OHDYLQJ R΀FH RQ 0D\ or running for re-election, as well as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had, as of 30thSeptember 2022, piled up about N5.36 trillion in sub-national domestic GHEWV 7KLV ÀJXUH LV ERXQG to be much higher when XSGDWHG 7KH VXE QDWLRQDO GHEWV DUH FODVVLÀHG LQWR domestic borrowings from local creditors and external borrowings from foreign creditors like the World Bank. *RYHUQDQFH ZLWKRXW PDQDJHPHQW LV D YLUDO D΁LFWLRQ WKDW KDV FRPH WR DͿHFW ERWK WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW and the states in recent times. Unfortunately, the template under which state governments exist as mere SD\ R΀FHV IRU UHGLVWULEXWLQJ WKH PRQWKO\ SURFHHGV RI oil rent from Abuja is fast losing value. As oil prices plummet and the number of oil producer nations multiplies, there may soon be little or nothing to redistribute. The states must therefore become centres of productive activities. But that would require a critical review of the socio-economic system operated in the country.

According to the World Bank, states’ debts will rise above 200 per cent of revenue this year. How these states will survive in the face of the increasingly DVSK\[LDWLQJ ÀVFDO VTXHH]H H[DFHUEDWHG E\ SRRU UHYHQXH JHQHUDWLRQ SUHVHQWV D MLJVDZ SX]]OH :KDW compounds the situation is that most of these debts

being incurred for future generations of Nigerians are expended on projects that bring little or no returns on investment.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the umbrella body for the 36 states governors, admitted recently WKDW PRVW VWDWHV ZHUH DOUHDG\ H[SHULHQFLQJ ÀVFDO VWUHVV and that continued decline in their revenue from the federal purse might cause crisis in meeting their recurrent expenditures. Many states are not only owing backlog of workers’ salaries and pensions, but they are also yet to implement the National Minimum Wage of 1 VLJQHG LQWR ODZ VLQFH 7KLV LV GHVSLWH WKH VWDJÁDWLRQ LQ WKH ODQG ZKLFK KDV SXVKHG WKH FRVW RI goods and services beyond the reach of majority of Nigerians.

Regrettably, despite the misery at their doorsteps, many of the governors are yet to adjust to the prevailing realities as they continue to indulge in ostentatious lifestyles and investing scarce public funds on frivolities. They still funnel public funds to political activities while the burial and wedding FHUHPRQLHV RI IDPLO\ PHPEHUV RI WRS SXEOLF R΀FHUV are turned into state carnivals at huge cost. Ironically, while the humongous debts hang precariously on the neck of these states, some of them like Abia and Delta States among others, are moving to borrow more. We believe that the current challenge does not call for more borrowing, but rather creative resource management and potent revenue generation drive. ,QGHHG WKH ULVLQJ GHEW SURÀOH UDLVHV VHULRXV FRQFHUQV as most of the states have feeble revenue base. But federal bailouts and emergency handouts will not chase away the problem. Nor will mass retrenchment help in an economy where unemployment and plain poverty have reached emergency dimensions. What the situation therefore calls for is a serious re-think of the IXQGDPHQWDO DVVXPSWLRQ RI RXU ÀVFDO DUUDQJHPHQWV The feeding bottle mentality must begin to give way to D EHWWHU SXEOLF ÀQDQFH PDQDJHPHQW V\VWHP DQFKRUHG on result-oriented revenue generation mechanism.

The feeding bottle mentality must begin to give way to a better public finance management system anchored on result-oriented revenue generation mechanism T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS DOES TINUBU HAVE AGENDA FOR NORTH? Hajiya Najaatu Mohammed, former coordinator of APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), representing civil soFLHW\ RUJDQL]DWLRQ KDV VWLUUHG WKH KRUQHW QHVW LQ DQ LQWHUYLHZ she granted recently on why she resigned her appointment as a member of PCC. In the interview, Najaatu stated that she travelled to London to meet the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who pleaded with her to join his campaign team. After she met him, Najaatu asked him if he had any “blueprint” for the North.

To her surprise, Tinubu told her pointblank that he did not have. Also, in more than two hours in which the meeting lasted, Najaatu stated that Tinubu could not even respond well enough to a conversation. Whether Najaatu Mohammed statement on what transpired between her and Tinubu LV WUXH RU IDOVH 1RUWKHUQ 1LJHULD ZLWK VWDWHV DQG D JRRG voting strength wants to know Tinubu’s plan for the region.

Although leading contenders in all the major political parties have promised to tackle the north multi-faceted challenges, Tinubu is yet to tell us how he will do his. For instance, how does Tinubu intend to address the problem

of insecurity, the menace of almajiri, and poverty plaguing the region? While the Buhari administration has been able to technically defeat Boko Haram insurgents in Northeast, the violent activities of bandits in Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and other parts of Kaduna State have become matter of great concern. Tinubu should tell us his blueprint aimed at nipping in the bud the monster of banditry in the north. It is estimated that over 10 million children in the North are roaming the street without education. They constitute a nuisance in the region and can be used as political thugs by desperate politicians. We are yet to see any blueprint from 7LQXEX·V FDPSDLJQ RUJDQL]DWLRQ RQ KRZ WKHVH FKLOGUHQ ZLOO EH NHSW RͿ WKH VWUHHW Despite the fact President Buhari came from the North, his nearly eight years in power has not addressed the high rate of poverty in the region. The recent report from the National Bureau for Statistics (NBS) on multi-dimensional poverty which places Zamfara as the most impoverished in the country, says the obvious facts about the region’s growing poverty. When Tinubu’s political campaign train arrived

Kano, he ordered for music to be played and he danced. Instead of engaging in issue-based campaign, Tinubu turned himself to a dancer. This is unbecoming of any serious candidate who wants to govern a great country like Nigeria. At the end of his campaign, Tinubu neither told his supporters who trooped in their thousands what he had for them nor the North. The North will not be taken to the gallery any more. The region, like any other parts of the country, is battling with myriad of problems ranging from insecurity, poverty to illiteracy. Najaatu Mohammed and any right thinking northerner needs to know what our front lines candidates, including Tinubu, have for the region.

Nigerian democracy is evolving so also the political culture. The leadership failure being witnessed in the country since the return of democracy has necessitated the need to interrogate our presidential candidates on their programs for the well-being of Nigerians.

Ibrahim Mustapha, Pambegua, Kaduna State

TUESDAY JANUARY 31, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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LAWYER TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023

CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA, HON. JUSTICE OLUKAYODE ARIWOOLA, GCON

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JI ADELEKE

QUOTABLES ‘…..The refusal by the CBN to heed the invitation of the House of Representatives, is evidence of a blatant disregard for the well-being of the Nigerian people who are their customers. It is also an insult to the authority and prerogatives of the people’s Parliament.’ - Rt. Honourable Olufemi Gbajabiamila CFR, Lawyer; Speaker, House of Representatives, 9th National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria ‘Nepotism is a cancer. It is the worst type of corruption you can think about.’

- Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Catholic Archdiocese of Sokoto

COLUMNISTS DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, CON, SAN, FCIARE, PH.D. LLD Constitutional Democracy, means a system of government, in which political and governmental power, is defined, limited and shared by a grundnorm called the Constitution, which provides inbuilt checks and balances.

This column seeks to fiercely discuss constitutional, legal and political issues, with a view to strengthening, deepening and widening the plenitude and amplitude of democracy and good governance, without fear or favour.

The writer of this column, Dr. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is a Constitutional Lawyer, Human Rights Activist, Pro-Democracy Campaigner, Notary Public and Motivational Speaker. He co-founded the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Nigeria’s pioneer human rights league, on October 15, 1987, the Universal defenders of Democracy (UDD), in 1992, and with Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others in 1998, the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON), to push out the military. In his early days, he lectured at the University of Ife. Dr. Ozekhome is an author of many books. He is also a Special Counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague.

LAWYER

Kubi Udofia PhD Kubi Udofia holds a Doctorate degree in Law from The University of Nottingham, a Certificate in International Risk Management from the Institute of Risk Management, London, a Masters degree in Corporate Law from University College London and a Bachelors degree from University of Uyo in Nigeria.

He is a leading and an acknowledged expert, in corporate restructuring and insolvency law in Nigeria. As a scholarpractitioner, Kubi Udofia has extensively researched and written on a broad spectrum of topical issues in corporate restructuring and insolvency law. He is a seasoned transactional and dispute resolution specialist, with extensive knowledge and practical experience in corporate and commercial law.

He is a Partner at Babalakin & Co, a leading commercial law firm in Nigeria.

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023

The Many Faces of Anti-Party Activities Party Defections n this election season, Nigerians have witnessed possibly an unprecedented level of Party Defections and Anti-Party Activities - they both go hand in hand, with the former sometimes being a follow up of the latter. It is now more or less common place, to see an individual speaking as a spokesperson for a candidate in Party A this week, and next week, becoming a spokesperson for the candidate in opposing Party B! And, the way they speak with so much conviction about their principals in the new parties being the best thing after sliced bread, having previously said the same thing about their old principals in their former parties, makes any right-thinking person wonder! The frequency of such occurrences, rather than party defections being few and far between and based on some strong principle, makes the discerning come to the irresistible conclusion that Nigerian politics usually has less to do with ideology, and more to do with self-service! I use the word ‘usually’ because, there are a few exceptions to this, that is, party defection based on genuine reasons. A politician friend of mine prefers to refer to such defections and betrayals as an "Evolution" in our politics and democracy, and insists that, in other more developed democracies, such things occurred regularly in their pasts, as they gradually transcended.

Of course, nothing in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2018)(the Constitution) prohibits politicians from defecting from one party to another, except Sections 68(1)(g) & 109(1)(g) thereof which preclude National and State Legislators respectively, from defecting from the party that sponsored them into office to another, before the expiration of that particular term in whichever Legislative House they are in, save in certain circumstances, for instance, if there is a division in the political party that sponsored such a Legislator into office.

We all know that even these two provisions seem to have been jettisoned, as Legislators too freely jump from one party to another without the conditions in the aforementioned Sections 68 & 109 being satisfied, and they do not vacate their seats. See the case of Ogbuoji & Ors v Umahi & Ors (2022) LPELR-57166(CA) per Oyewole JCA; AGF & Ors v Alhaji Atiku Abubakar & Ors S.C. 31/2007 2007 NGSC 179 per Sunday Akintan JSC.

I

APC & PDP Constitutions: Anti-Party Activity Offences & Disciplinary Measures Anti-party activities, that is, being engaged in activities which undermine or are detrimental to your political party, or may ruin its chances at the polls or bring it into disrepute, have also become the order of the day in this election cycle. Of course, lack of internal democracy within political parties thereby foisting unpopular or wrong candidates on party members, is a major contributor to antiparty activities. In Isa v CPC & Ors 2013 LPELR-22376 (CA), the Court of Appeal held inter alia that a political party should not be allowed to violate or breach its own guidelines and constitution, and foist excesses and arbitrariness on a member of the party.

An obvious example of an anti-party activity however, one which is common in today’s electoral cycle, is supporting a candidate of another political party, whether secretly or openly, over and above the candidate of your own party vying for the same elective office.

The other day, I saw a flyer on social media, where in the same flyer, the candidate for one elective office was from Party A, while that of the Presidential candidate was from Party L. Also, making public derogatory statements about one’s party, which can tend to bring the party into contempt, hatred, odium or opprobrium, or lower the party in the estimation of the public, is also an anti-party activity.

In this second scenario, we have seen some make such statements, especially as they are exiting from the party.

I perused the constitutions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and I discovered that though the term was not specifically defined by either party’s constitution, and seems to be quite fluid in meaning, both parties consider anti-party activities to be an offence,

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate “….we all know that the two major political parties APC and PDP are chronic vote-buyers, and we witnessed samples of their vote-buying techniques during their party primaries last year….Could the new currency regime introduced by this APC Government, also be said to qualify as an Article 21 A(ii) APC Constitution Anti-Party Activity Offence, since it will most likely have an adverse effect on the party during the elections?" and have disciplinary measures in place in case of a member being found guilty of such infraction.

Chapter 10 Section 58(1)(b) & (f) of the PDP Constitution 2012 lists saying or doing anything likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt, or engaging in anti-party activities, as offences, while Section 59 thereof prescribes various types of punishments ranging from Reprimand to Expulsion from the party, if a member commits any of the Section 58 offences.

Article 21 A (ii) of the APC Constitution provides that anti-party activity is an offence against the Party, “or any conduct which is likely to embarrass or have adverse effect on the party or bring the party into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute".

Article 21 A (xi) also makes alteration of Delegates lists and falsification of nomination results and tampering with internal democracy, infractions that result in expulsion from the party and criminal prosecution. However, just like Government observes laws in their breach, so also do party members not have any regard for the offences and disciplinary aspects of their constitutions. The recent incident where aspirants who were unsuccessful in their bid to get their Party Presidential ticket, and mysteriously claimed to have simultaneously secured Senatorial tickets without participating in the primaries, not only went unpunished, APC sought to foist the Senate President on the Party as its consensus candidate, and forward his name to INEC as its candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District, when Bashir Machina was the one who participated

APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu

in the primaries and won. See Section 84(9)-(11) of the Electoral Act 2022 (EA) and Isa v CPC & Ors (Supra).

Government & Anti-Party Activities Can the APC Government itself also be accused of engaging in anti-party activities? When an election is so close by, and some deliberate acts and omissions of a Government whose party is also running for re-election, have the resultant effect of ramming all sorts of hardship down the people’s throats, do those acts and omissions not qualify as anti-party activities, because instead of endearing the party to the people, the people are riled up and disgruntled?

Less than one month to the Presidential election, the fuel queues are getting longer instead of reducing. The nationwide fuel shortage has lingered for months on end, and is something that has unleashed untold suffering on Nigerians. Therefore, there are many making snide remarks about how bizarre it is that the APC hopes to win the election, when people cannot even purchase fuel, and there is a negative multiplier effect of inconvenience and higher prices stemming therefrom.

Some leave home as early as 3am, or even spend the night at petrol stations, to be able to get fuel to buy. People are definitely spitting venom about APC! This fuel shortage issue seems to fit into Article 21 A (ii) of the APC Constitution as an offence against the party, as it is not only a constant embarrassment and has an adverse effect on the APC, but brings the party into hatred, contempt, ridicule and disrepute. One would expect that a Government that wants

PDP National Chairman, Professor Iyorchia Ayu

its party to be re-elected would have sorted this fuel shortage problem a long time ago, but instead, it seems totally unconcerned about the situation! Government has not said anything comforting, nor done much to alleviate this bad situation. See Chapter II of the Constitution (Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy) Is Government engaged in an anti-party activity?

Interestingly, some APC politicians are also categorising the CBN’s new currency change without adequate preparation, restrictions on the withdrawal of cash coming on the eve of the 2023 general elections, and non-availability of the new currency for Nigerians, whether at the ATMs or from the Banks themselves, as anti-party activities, since it has the stamp of approval of President Muhammadu Buhari (being the President, the most senior APC member) and his APC administration! While a politician friend of mine makes a half-convincing argument that, unlike a place like the UK, since Nigeria doesn’t have a volunteering culture where party agents would volunteer to carry out their functions free-of-charge, here in Nigeria, they have to be paid (in cash) in order not to mess up their candidates on Election Day by selling out to the highest bidder who may be ready to pay, we all know that the two major political parties APC and PDP are chronic vote-buyers, and we witnessed samples of their vote-buying techniques during their party primaries last year. It therefore, goes without saying, that Government’s new currency regime will have an adverse effect on those who were planning to use vote-buying as their election strategy!

However, more importantly, it also has an adverse effect on the ruling APC, as the public who have been unable to collect cash from the Banks across Nigeria, are murmuring against the APC Government, grumbling that they have failed and do not deserve to be re-elected next month. Could the new currency regime introduced by this APC Government, also be said to qualify as an Article 21 A(ii) APC Constitution Anti-Party Activity Offence, since it will most likely have an adverse effect on the party during the elections?

Conclusion The 2023 election is now less than four weeks away. Undoubtedly, we may probably see some more high profile party defections at the last minute, and definitely, more anti-party activities, even if they are covert. It is an open secret that high ranking members of parties, are secretly working for the victory of opponents for various reasons, including ethnicity, religion, self-interest, hedging their bets in order to stay relevant politically, and so on.

P.S. 2022 Osun Gubernatorial: Oyetola v Adeleke A look at the Osun State judgement delivered last week in the matter of the Gubernatorial election, Oyetola v Adeleke, raised pertinent questions. Aside from the playfulness displayed in such a serious matter - in the majority decision, with the reference to Kizz Daniel’s hit song “Buga” and the repetition of the chorus of the song in the said judgement (I received several calls and messages, asking me if it was a real judgement or a prank), it is important to ask whether the BVAS machine (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) itself was examined during the Tribunal proceedings, as it would be the sure means to clear up any discrepancies between any forms, reports etc.

I ask because, there is a process for voting.

The voter must be accredited with the BVAS, before voting. See Section 47(1) & (2) of the EA. There is a logical conclusion therefore, that lawful voters must have been accredited.

The record of all accredited voters, remains in the BVAS, as this device is the primary custodian of accredited voters on Election Day, and the way to ascertain whether there was over-voting in any election, would be to actually examine the BVAS machines tendered in evidence in an election petition, to make comparison with whatever results are generated. Was this done? After all, one of the reasons for the introduction of the BVAS, is to eliminate the various opportunities for election rigging and controversy regarding the number of voters and results, that have always plagued our elections.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

Whether Restitution Can be Ordered in Addition to Prescribed Penalty Facts The Appellant and one other accused person were arraigned before the High Court of Anambra State on a three-count Charge of obtaining property by false pretence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006; representing themselves as capable of producing Nigerian currency from a piece of paper and other materials contrary to Section 2(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act and; attempt to obtain money by false pretence contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act. At the conclusion of trial, the High Court found the Appellant guilty as charged, and sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment on count one, 10 years imprisonment on count two, and 15 years imprisonment on count three. The court also ordered the Appellant to refund the sum of N400,000.00 which he was found to have obtained through false pretence, to the Complainant.

Dissatisfied with his conviction and sentence, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal.

The appellate court, after hearing the appeal, found no merit in it; hence, it dismissed the appeal and affirmed the judgement of the trial court.

Aggrieved, the Appellant filed a further appeal to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination The following issues were considered by the Apex Court in its determination of the appeal: 1. Whether the trial and conviction of the Appellant by the trial court and his conviction and sentence affirmed by the Court of Appeal, was not in violation of Section 36(6)(a) & (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 309 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State 2010.

2. Whether the Court of Appeal was right to hold that the Order of the trial court directing the Appellant to pay back to the Complainant the defrauded sum after sentencing him to various terms of imprisonment, did not amount to double punishment and did not occasion a miscarriage of justice.

3. Whether the Court of Appeal was right in upholding the judgement of the trial court, that the Respondent proved its case against the Appellant beyond reasonable doubt.

Arguments On the first issue, counsel for the Appellant argued that after the initial two counts information preferred against the Appellant was withdrawn and substituted with a three counts information filed on 19th July, 2012, the counts were not separately read to the Appellant, nor was the Charge explained to him before his plea was taken. He submitted that the failure of the prosecution to read the counts separately to the Appellant, was a clear violation of the provisions of Section 36(6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution. He added that this also contradicts Section 309 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State, 2010, which requires an accused person to enter his plea separately to each count in a Charge. Counsel for the Appellant relied on the case of ADAMU v STATE (1986) 3 NWLR (Pt. 32) 865, to argue that failure to comply with these provisions will render the trial null and void. He submitted that the Appellant’s constitutional right had been violated in a manner that engendered a miscarriage of justice, and rendered the entire proceedings before the trial court and the Court of Appeal defective, null and void. Arguing conversely, counsel for the Respondent submitted that the records of appeal showed that on 11th October, 2012, before the Appellant and his co-accused took their pleas to the Amended Charge, the Charge was read in English Language and interpreted to them in Igbo Language. He submitted that what the law provides is that the Charge should be read

Honourable Tijjani Abubakar, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 2nd day of December, 2022 Before Their Lordships Amina Adamu Augie Mohammed Lawal Garba Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Adamu Jauro Tijjani Abubakar Justices, Supreme Court SC/82/2016 Between PATRICK EZERIKE

APPELLANT And

THE STATE RESPONDENT (Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Tijjani Abubakar, JSC)

and explained to the accused person to the satisfaction of the court, and this was duly complied with at the trial court.

On the second issue, counsel for the Appellant contended that the order by the court that the Appellant should refund to PW1 the defrauded sum when it had convicted the Appellant and sentenced him to various terms of imprisonment, amounted to double jeopardy and double punishment. He argued that it is not within the powers of a court exercising only criminal jurisdiction to make an order of refund, and that it is only a civil court that has the powers to make such order for refund of the alleged defrauded sum. Responding, counsel argued on behalf of the Respondent that the contentions of the Appellant are in total disregard and a misconception of Section 11(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, and that the Order made by the trial court for the Appellant to refund the sum of N400,000.00 to PW1

“…. by the provisions of Section 11 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, the High Court has the power to order, in addition to any other penalty prescribed under the Act, that the person convicted of an offence under the Act makes restitution of the money or property he dishonestly acquired to the victim of the false pretence or fraud”

does not amount to double punishment.

Arguing the third issue, counsel for the Appellant submitted that both the first and second extra-judicial statements of PW1 and her oral evidence at the trial court were contradictory and inconsistent, that even the trial court referred to the existence of these material contradictions in its judgement. He argued that where there are contradictions in the evidence of the prosecution witness and a doubt is noticeable as to whether the accused person committed the crime he was alleged to have committed, the courts are always enjoined to decide in favour of the accused person. He relied on CHRISTOPHER ONUBOGU & ANOR. v THE STATE (1974) 9 SC 1. Counsel argued further that the trial court failed to properly consider the Appellant’s defence, especially the defence that his extra- judicial statements were signed out of compulsion and on pain of death. He urged the court to resolve the appeal in favour of the Appellant. Reacting to the submissions, counsel for the Respondent argued contrarily that the contention of the Appellant that the Respondent did not prove its case as required by law, was borne out of a total misconception of the documentary evidence before the court and the oral testimony of PW1. He argued further that the purported contradictions in the extra-judicial statements and oral testimony of PW1, were satisfactorily explained to the court.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the first issue, the Supreme Court held that an arraignment would be valid when the Charge is read and explained to the accused person in the language

he understands, and he is allowed to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. In this case, it was evident from the records of appeal that the Amended Charge was read and interpreted to the Appellant in Igbo language, and the Appellant clearly understood the Charge before pleading guilty to same. Given the foregoing, the court held that the contention of the Appellant that Section 36(6)(a) & (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 309 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State, 2010 were not complied with in the arraignment of the Appellant, was therefore incorrect.

On the second issue, their Lordships held that by the provisions of Section 11 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, the High Court has the power to order, in addition to any other penalty prescribed under the Act, that the person convicted of an offence under the Act makes restitution of the money or property he dishonestly acquired to the victim of the false pretence or fraud.

Section 11 of the Act donated full powers to the trial court to make an order of restitution, which is an act of giving back to a person something that was lost or stolen, or paying him money for the loss, apart from any other punishment or penalty it might have imposed on the convict - EZEANI v FRN (2039) LPELR-46800 (SC) 22–25. The court also referred to Section 454(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which empowers the court to make an order for compensation for loss or injury, in addition to any other punishment prescribed thereunder - AJIBOYE v FRN (2018) LPELR-44468 (SC).

The court held further that the jurisprudence behind restitution for victims of crime is that, it is the right of a victim to be reimbursed for losses caused directly. Restitution is thus, not a punishment for the offender; it is regarded in law as monetary debt the offender owes the victim of the crime. It follows therefore, that the trial court was right in imposing the payment of the defrauded sum of N400,000.00 in addition to the terms of punishment, and the Court of Appeal rightly affirmed same.

On the third issue, the Apex Court held that in order to succeed in proving the offence of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, the following ingredients must be established and proved by the prosecution: (a) That the accused made a false representation to the victim, with the intent to defraud her; (b) That the pretence or representation was false to the knowledge of the accused; (c) That the false pretence or representation made by the accused to the victim, was indeed false; and (d) That the false pretence or representation, operated in the mind of the unsuspecting victim. To prove its case at the trial court, the Respondent called two witnesses, and also tendered exhibits in proof of its case. The court held that apart from the confessional statement of the Appellant, which was admitted into evidence as Exhibit D after a trial-within-trial established its voluntariness, the testimony of the victim who testified as PW1 in her oral evidence before the court, narrated how the Appellant and his gang took her to Asaba and lured her into believing that there was a chemical which, if used, could turn paper into Naira currency. PW1 also testified that the Appellant requested her to bring money, so that they could buy chemicals to make more money. Although the Appellant argued that PW1’s testimony was inconsistent with her extra-judicial statement, it was however, on record that PW1 adequately and satisfactorily explained the said inconsistencies. In the instant appeal, therefore, there was clear, direct, credible oral and documentary evidence, particularly Exhibit D, establishing beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the Appellant for the offences he was charged with.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Sir Ejike Ezenwa, SAN, with Jacinta Okoye Esq. and Obinatu Kenneth Esq. for the Appellant.

Dr. Obianuju Nwogu for the Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

INSOLVENCY DISCOURSE DR KUBI UDOFIA

INFO@KUBIUDOFIA.COM

An Analysis of the Rules of Appropriation of Payment in Respect of Debts Introduction he question of appropriation of payment in relation to debts becomes imperative where a debtor with more than two separate debt obligations to the same creditor or lender, makes a payment which is insufficient to discharge all the debts. The debtor’s desire could be to discharge one, or some (but not all) of the debts.

In contrast, where a debtor owes a single debt to a creditor, payment by the debtor does not give rise to any complex questions regarding appropriation of the payment. The payment is simply applied in discharge of the single debt, whether partially or wholly.

The core principles of appropriation of payment examined in this discourse, dictate how a debtor’s payment is to be appropriated or allocated or applied in discharge of its debt obligations to a single creditor. Whist there is a dearth of Nigerian case laws on this subject; there are a plethora of judicial decisions from England and other common law jurisdictions.

Furthermore, in some common law jurisdictions like India, the core principles of appropriation of payment in respect of debts, have been codified in contract-related laws.

T

Debtor’s Right to Appropriate Payment A debtor who owes two or more separate debts to the same creditor or lender and makes a payment which is insufficient to discharge all the debts, is entitled to specify the debt(s) the payment is to be applied. If the creditor accepts such payment, the creditor must discharge that specified debt: Cory Brothers & Co. v Owners of Turkish Steamship ‘Mecca’ [1897] AC 286, 293. The Latin maxim is quicquid solvitur, solvitur secundum modum solventis, meaning “whatever is paid is applied according to the wish of the payer.” The rationale for the foregoing, is that the debtor to whom the money belongs, has the right to part with it on its own terms.

In Thomas v Ken Thomas Ltd [2006] EWCA Civ 1504, the debtor informed the creditor in advance and in writing that it would be appropriating (i) two payments made in December 2004 to a rent due on 1/12/2004, and (ii) four payments made in January 2005 to a rent due on 1/1/2005. The creditor responded in writing, rejecting the appropriations and stating the manner which the creditor wanted the payments to be applied to the debts.

At trial, the creditor argued that considering his rejection of the debtor’s appropriation and the creditor’s “counter-appropriation” prior to the debtor making the payments, the debtor’s options were to either (i) pay on the basis counter-proposed by the creditor, or (ii) not make any payment. The court held that, the creditor’s contention entailed wrongfully depriving the debtor of the right to make a payment with its own choice of appropriation.

The court stated that the debtor had validly appropriated payments to particular debts, and in consequence, the creditor could not rightly appropriate the payments to other debts. The court also held that, where a debtor communicates an appropriation in advance of a payment, it is not open to a creditor to defeat the debtor’s appropriation by challenging or disagreeing with the appropriation prior to payment.

Accordingly, a creditor is not entitled to

appropriate or “counter-appropriate” payment, where the debtor’s appropriation of payment is not satisfactory to the creditor.

Where a debtor’s appropriation of payment is not acceptable to a creditor, the proper response is for the creditor to reject the payment. If the debtor has already made a transfer of such payment to the creditor, for instance electronically, the creditor may cause a re-transfer of the money to the debtor within a reasonable time.

A debtor’s appropriation of payment must be apparent from the circumstances or duly communicated to the creditor. This will ensure that the creditor does not wrongly assume that his right of appropriate has arisen by reason of the debtor’s failure, omission or neglect to appropriate. A debtor’s appropriation may be expressly communicated to the creditor or inferred/ implied from a variety of circumstances: In re Footman Bower & Co Ltd [1961] 1 Ch 443, 448. As regards implied appropriation, each case must be considered on its own peculiar facts or circumstances: Parker v Guinness (1910) 27 TLR 129, 131.

In Leesen v Leesen [1936] 2 KB 156, 160-163, Greene LJ explained that an inference of a creditor’s appropriation was not to be made from “undisclosed intention in the mind of the debtor”.

Rather, a debtor’s appropriation is to be inferred from the circumstances of the case known to both the debtor and the creditor. This position was recently echoed in Khandanpour v Chambers [2019] EWCA Civ 570, [25], [27], where the court stated that “what matters is that in the light of all the circumstances, and viewing the matter objectively, there should be no doubt about the debtor's intention.” The circumstances must show that the debtor intended to appropriate the payment to specific debts.

“A debtor who owes two or more separate debts to the same creditor or lender and makes a payment which is insufficient to discharge all the debts, is entitled to specify the debt(s) the payment is to be applied”

Creditor’s right to Appropriate Payment Where a debtor has not allocated payment and the circumstances do not also indicate which debt a payment is to be applied, the right to appropriate will devolve to the creditor: City Discount Co. v McLean (1874) LR 9 CP 692; Deeley v Lloyds Bank Ltd [1912] AC 756, 783. In Stepney Corporation v Osofsky [1937] 3 All ER 289, the debtor which owed the creditor two sets of debts made certain payments to the creditor without specifically appropriating the payments to any particular debt. The creditor appropriated the payments in satisfaction of arrears of the earliest debt.

An action instituted by the debtor against the creditor, in which it contended that it had intended to pay the most current debts, was unsuccessful.

Accordingly, a creditor may appropriate payment in a manner which is beneficial to it. In this regard, the creditor may strategically appropriate payments to debts which it regards as being comparatively riskier.

For instance, the creditor may appropriate payments to unsecured debts instead of secured debts. Similarly, the creditor may appropriate payment to debts which are not guaranteed instead of debts backed by personal or corporate guarantee: Re Sherry (1884) 25 Ch.D. 692; Kinnard v Webster (1878) 10 Ch.D. 139.

Where some of the debts are lawful whist some are unlawful (i.e. unlawful by reason of underlying unlawful transactions), it has been held that it is impermissible for a creditor to appropriate payment to the unlawful debt: Smith & Son Ltd v Walker [1952] 2 QB 319, 328. In other words, when the right to appropriate devolves to a creditor, the creditor can only allocate payments to lawful debts. However, a debtor may specifically appropriate payment which it has made to an unlawful debt. Where a debtor, for whatever reason, makes such an appropriation and communicates to the creditor, the debtor cannot reverse the appropriation either directly or by an action.

Furthermore, where some of the debts are statute-barred whilst others are not, a creditor whose right to appropriate has arisen may appropriate payment to debts which are statute-barred: In re Footman Bower & Co Ltd [1961] 1 Ch 443, 448; Nash v Hodgson (1855) 6 D. M. & G 474, 480. However, the payment by the

debtor of such debts by reason of the creditor’s appropriation will not operate to revive the creditor’s right to sue for the statute-barred debt: Friend v Young (1897) 2 Ch 421, 434.

As regards when a creditor should make an appropriation, it is fairly settled that a creditor is entitled to appropriate “up to the very last moment” of the occurrence of an event which makes appropriation inequitable: Owners of Turkish Steamship ‘Mecca’ [supra] at 293294; Hitch v Enaam (2021) EHWC 2112 (Ch). What constitutes “the very last moment” depends on the circumstances of each case. In Seymour v Pickett [1905] 1 KB 715, 725, Romer LJ held that the creditor was entitled to make an appropriation when he was being examined as a witness in the creditor’s action against the debtor in relation to the creditor’s right of appropriation of payment. However, in Smith v Betty (1903) 2 KB 317, the court stated that it was no longer open to the plaintiff/creditor to make an appropriation after judgment had been given.

A creditor exercising a right to appropriate payment must communicate or make apparent the appropriation to the debtor to avoid the legal consequence of non-appropriation.

Where the appropriation is to be inferred, the creditor’s presumed intention may be gathered from surrounding circumstances which make such intention unmistakably clear: Owners of Turkish Steamship “Mecca” (supra) at 294. It has been suggested that a creditor’s appropriation may be inferred from the issuance or a writ or filing of a defence (where the creditor is a defendant): Seymour v Pickett [1905] 1 KB 715, 722-723.

An appropriation by a creditor, whose right to appropriate has arisen, will not be binding on the creditor until it has been communicated to the debtor: Simson v Ingham [1823] 2 B & C 65. However, once a creditor communicates his appropriation to the debtor, the creditor cannot thereafter reverse or change such appropriation.

In other words, so long as a creditor has not communicated its appropriation to the debtor and nothing has occurred to make it inequitable for the creditor to exercise the right to appropriate, a creditor may alter its appropriation.

Postscript Where neither the debtor nor its creditor has appropriated a payment to one or more debts, the payment will be applied based on the order in which the debts were incurred. In other words, first in, first out: Devaynes v Noble [1816] 1 Mer 527, 608 (Clayton’s Case).

VI COVER

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola GCON

Judges’ Salaries and Allowances: NBA’s Radical Proposal to RMFAC Tehe issue of judicial remuneration has been a matter of concern for justice sector stakeholders, certainly since the return of Nigeria to democracy in 1999. There is a consensus that any discussion on justice sector reform, must necessarily include consideration of judicial salaries and allowances. It is almost unbelievable, that judicial officers in Nigeria have been on the same salary scale for well over a decade. Compared to the other arms of Government, the Judiciary appears to suffer some of the worst conditions of public service. Yet, successive governments since 1999, have glossed over the issue. To an objective observer, it would seem like a contradiction in terms for Nigeria and Nigerians to desire a world class judicial system, and yet, saddle a key enabler of that system with poor conditions of service. This was the position until recently, when President Muhammadu Buhari directed RMFAC (Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission) to commence the review of remuneration of judicial officers. In a 144 paged memorandum jointly signed by Yakubu Maikyau OON, SAN, President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, Alternate Chairman, NBA Working Committee on Judicial Remuneration and Conditions of Service, the NBA makes a compelling case for an urgent radical review of Judicial Remuneration. The memorandum proposes an ambitious 200% increase, in the basic salaries of all Judicial Officers. Also noteworthy, is the total overhaul of what currently consists of judicial allowances. Perhaps, the most radical proposal yet, is the recommendation on removing judicial office holders from the purview of RMFAC, and the establishment of a separate panel to oversee matters concerning Judicial Salaries and Allowances. There is no doubt that, this Report has set the framework for a vigorous debate on the issue. RMFAC has, by this memorandum, been presented with an agenda to engage justice sector stakeholders. Without prejudice to the desirability of a consultative process, it must be said that debates on this issue should be time bound. It is time to recognise the invaluable role of the Judiciary, in consolidating our democracy. Nigeria cannot, at this time of her existence, afford to carry the burden of a demoralised Judiciary. In acknowledgment of the importance of this issue, This Day Lawyer now reproduces the Report

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Judges’ Salaries and Allowances: NBA’s Radical Proposal to RMFAC RMFAC’s Invitation to NBA to Submit Memorandum on Remuneration Review Introduction 1. This Memorandum sets out the findings and recommendations of the Nigerian Bar Association Working Committee on Judicial Remuneration and Conditions of Service (the Committee). The Memorandum articulates the position of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Judicial Salaries, Allowances and General Conditions of Service. This Memorandum is a product of a long process of consultation amongst role players in the administration of justice. There were: (a) Consultations with members of the NBA (b) Consultations and correspondence received from the National Judicial Council (NJC) (c) Consultations with the office of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice. (d) Desk review of available laws, government notices, reports from high level committees on judicial remuneration and conditions of service (e) Desk gathering, including online search for relevant information on judicial remuneration in other jurisdictions. (f) Interactions with selected serving and retired judicial officers Background 2. By its Letter dated 2nd November, 2022, Reference No RMC/FEF/58/I/103, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) invited the NBA to submit a Memorandum for the review of the remuneration of public, political and judicial office holders in Nigeria. Paragraph 32(d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) empowers the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission “to determine the remuneration appropriate for political office holders, including the President,Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Legislators and the holders of the offices mentioned in Sections 84 and 124 of this Constitution”.

3. Section 84(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) specifically mentions among others, the offices of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice of the Supreme Court, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge and Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Chief Judge of a State, Judge of the High Court of a State, Grand Kadi of Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, President and Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of a State.

4. The letter from the RMFAC provided an opportunity for the NBA to further articulate and present its position on judicial remuneration. The NBA has since the return of Nigeria to democracy in 1999, actively campaigned for a holistic review of the conditions of service of judicial officers in recognition of the important role of the Judiciary in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy. This memorandum therefore, focusses exclusively on judicial remuneration.

The Working Committee on Judicial Remuneration and Conditions of Service 1.5 The Working Committee on Judicial Remuneration and Conditions of Service (the Committee) was

President, Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau OON, SAN

constituted by the NBA President, to advise and make recommendations on matters concerning the salaries, allowances and conditions of service of judicial office holders. The Committee is working in furtherance of the commitment of the NBA to lead justice sector stakeholders advocacy, on the improvement in conditions of service of judicial office holders and those in retirement.

Membership of the Working Committee Members of the Working Committee are: Chairman: YakubuChonokoMaikyau 00/ 4"/ 1SFTJEFOU /JHFSJBO #BS "TTPDJBUJPO Alternate Chairman: 0MBXBMF 'BQPhunda, SAN, Managing Partner, Legal Resources Consortium, Lagos; Former Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Ekiti State Members: Proefsor Mamman Lawan Yusufari, SAN FacultyofLaw, Bayero University, Kano $IJOPOZF 0CJBHXV 4"/ -FBE $PVOTFM Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), Lagos Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, SAN, Principal, S.E Aruwa & Co, Abuja Professor Adamu Ibrahim, Faculty of Law, University of Jos

Alternate Chairman, NBA Committee, Olawale Fapohunda, SAN

Folashade Alli, C. Arb Managing Partner, Folashade Alli & Associates, Lagos Aisha Ado Abdullahi, Managing Partner, Green Edge Attorneys, Kano Amaka Uzuegbu, Managing Solicitor, B.C 6[VFHCV $P 0OJUTIB Mohammed Tajudeen Mohammed, ACIArb, Principal Partner, M.T Mohammed & Co, Kaduna Anago Nnamdi, Associate Partner, IfeanyJDIVLXV 0CJBLPS 4"/ $P "XLB Philemon Audu Daffi, Principal Partner, Peace Attorneys, Kano Methodology for Judicial Remuneration Review 1. The Committee invited the Bar, Judiciary and Government to provide relevant data, information and views on the current state of judicial remuneration and conditions of service.

The Committee gave special recognition to the Report of the Technical Committee on Judicial Remuneration (TCJR) established by the Federal Government. The Committee notes that the report was submitted in 2018. While most of the findings of TCJR are still very relevant today, the remuneration adjustments proposed cannot be said to reflect current economic realities. Indeed, if the proposals of the TCJR had been implemented in 2018, it will be due for review now.

2. Having considered the TCJR report in

detail, as well as communications received from the Judiciary and NBA branches, the Committee then exercised its best judgement in analysing and balancing a basket of factors all relevant in formulating its recommendations.

Balanced Approach 3. Consistent with the methodology adopted by the TCJR in its 2018 Report, the Committee adopted a balanced approach in reviewing judicial remuneration by taking into account a basket of factors. An important consideration was the need to as far as possible harmonise the salaries and allowances of judicial officers with those of members of the National Assembly. In the opinion of the Committee, the salaries and allowances of justices of the Supreme Court and those of the Court of Appeal should not be less than those of Senators or a Members of House of Representatives. However, despite the best efforts of the Committee, it was not possible to get current, accurate and reliable computations of the salaries and allowances of members of the National Assembly at the time of concluding this Memorandum. The other basket of factors considered by the Committee are the following – (h) the need to protect judicial independence; (i) the current state of judicial remuneration; (j) the responsibility, working conditions and workload of Judges;

Highlights of the Recommendations of the NBA Working Committee on Judicial Remuneration and Conditions of Service to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission r #BTJD 4BMBSZ 5IF $PNNJUUFF QSPQPTFE JODSFBTF BDSPTT UIF CPBSE GPS BMM KVEJDJBM PGGJDF IPMEFST r .FEJDBM "MMPXBODF 5IF $PNNJUUFF QSPQPTFE PG UIF CBTJD TBMBSZ PG BMM KVEJDJBM PGGJDF IPMEFST BT .FEJDBM "MMPXBODF GPS NJOPS BJMNFOUT UIBU EP OPU SFRVJSF IPTQJUBMJTBUJPO XIJMF PUIFS medical needs including overseas medical treatment and in-patient medical treatment in local medical institutions should be subject to necessary approvals that obtain currently. r 3FOU "MMPXBODF 5IF $PNNJUUFF QSPQPTFE SFOU BMMPXBODF GPS BMM +VEJDJBM 0GGJDFST r -FBWF "MMPXBODF 5IF $PNNJUUFF QSPQPTFE MFBWF BMMPXBODF QBJE PODF JO B ZFBS TP UIBU JU NBZ SFBMJTUJDBMMZ BTTJTU B +VEJDJBM 0GGJDFS HP PO WBDBUJPO XJUIJO PS PVUTJEF /JHFSJB r )BSETIJQ "MMPXBODF 5IF $PNNJUUFF QSPQPTFE BO VQXBSE SFWJFX PG GPS +VEJDJBM 0GGJDFST 5IJT JT CBTFE PO UIF GJOEJOHT PG UIF $PNNJUUFF PO XPSLMPBE BOE DPNQMFYJUZ PG KVEJDJBM XPSL Proposed New Allowances The Committee proposed the following new allowances, in recognition of the peculiar demands of the judicial office that deserve compensation, but are not presently included in allowances available to judicial officers: r 3FTUSJDUJWF -JGFTUZMF "MMPXBODF 5IF $PNNJUUFF QSPQPTFE MJGFTUZMF BMMPXBODF GPS BMM KVEJDJBM PGGJDF IPMEFST JO SFDPHOJUJPO PG UIF MJNJUBUJPOT PO MJGFTUZMF PG KVEJDJBM PGGJDFST JNQPTFE CZ UIF Judicial Code of Conduct. r %VBM 3FTQPOTJCJMJUZ "MMPXBODF 5IF $PNNJUUFF QSPQPTFE B %VBM 3FTQPOTJCJMJUZ BMMPXBODF GPS BMM IFBET PG DPVSU JO SFDPHOJUJPO PG UIF QFDVMJBS CVSEFO JOIFSFOU JO UIF PGGJDFT PG UIF IFBET of courts. r %JTSVQUJWF #VSEFO "MMPXBODF 5IF $PNNJUUFF QSPQPTFE %JTSVQUJWF #VSEFO "MMPXBODF GPS +VTUJDFT PG UIF $PVSU PG "QQFBM +VEHFT PG UIF 'FEFSBM )JHI $PVSU BOE UIF /BUJPOBM *OEVTUSJBM $PVSU JO WJFX PG UIF GSFRVFODZ PG UIFJS USBOTGFST JODMVEJOH UP NJUJHBUF UIF GJOBODJBM CVSEFO PG NBJOUBJOJOH UXP IPNFT r -POH 4FSWJDF "MMPXBODF 5IF $PNNJUUFF QSPQPTFE B -POH 4FSWJDF "MMPXBODF QBZBCMF NPOUIMZ UP KVEJDJBM PGGJDFST XIP IBWF TFSWFE PO UIF #FODI GPS B NJOJNVN PG ZFBST r -FHBM 3FTFBSDIFST "MMPXBODF 5IF $PNNJUUFF QSPQPTFE B NPOUIMZ MFHBM SFTFBSDI BMMPXBODF GPS BMM IFBET PG DPVSUT +VTUJDFT PG UIF 4VQSFNF $PVSU BOE +VTUJDFT PG UIF $PVSU PG "QQFBM Other Recommendations r5IF $PNNJUUFF SFDPNNFOET EFMJOLJOH KVEJDJBM SFNVOFSBUJPO GSPN UIBU PG UIF DJWJM TFSWJDF r5IF $PNNJUUFF SFDPNNFOET BO JOEFQFOEFOU OFX +VEJDJBM 4BMBSZ 1BZ 4DBMF UP CF LOPXO BT UIF +VEJDJBM 4FSWJDF 1BZ 4DBMF +414 UP FOBCMF KVEJDJBM TBMBSJFT UP CF TVCKFDU UP SFHVMBS SFWJFXT UIBU are distinct from that carried out in respect of the civil service. r5IF $PNNJUUFF SFDPNNFOET B TFQBSBUF MFHJTMBUJWF TDIFNF GPS TBMBSJFT BMMPXBODFT DPOEJUJPOT PG TFSWJDF BOE SFUJSFNFOU CFOFGJUT GPS KVEJDJBM PGGJDFST r5IF $PNNJUUFF QSPQPTFE B A+VEJDJBM 0GGJDF )PMEFST &OUJUMFNFOUT #JMM UP DSFBUF B +VEJDJBM 0GGJDF )PMEFST &OUJUMFNFOUT 1BOFM UP SFQMBDF UIF 3FWFOVF .PCJMJTBUJPO "MMPDBUJPO BOE 'JTDBM $PNNJTTJPO BT JU SFMBUFT UP UIF +VEJDJBSZ 5IJT XJMM BMTP SFRVJSF DPOTUJUVUJPOBM BNFOENFOU

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COVER Judges’ Salaries and Allowances: NBA’s Radical Proposal to RMFAC cont'd from page VII

(k) recruitment in the Judiciary; (l) retirement benefits of Judges; (m) benefit and allowances enjoyed by Judges; (n) overseas remuneration arrangements.

Consultative Approach 4. An extensive process of consultation within the Judiciary, the legal profession and beyond, ensured that this memorandum has been the subject of painstaking examination and vigorous debate.

The expectation is that RMFAC will accept the issues raised, and find the recommendations of the Committee worthy and deserving of careful consideration, during its deliberations on this very important matter.

Urgent Need for Speedy Review and Implementation 5. A submission of this nature cannot be viewed as the ‘final word’ from the NBA, on such an important and complex subject. The NBA is open to a robust debate and dialogue, on all parts of this memorandum. This is the NBA’s contribution to the national discussion on this issue. The NBA welcomes this consultative process undertaken by the RMFAC, and looks forward to additional opportunities for an open discussion on the subjectmatter. It is also our submission that, the consultative process must be time bound. The need for urgent action leading to speedy implementation, cannot be over-emphasised. Judicial officers across Nigeria are struggling with everyday challenges, brought about by poor conditions of service. This state of affairs is not good for the administration of justice in Nigeria, the promotion of the rule of law and the sustainability of our democracy.

Justification for Review of Judicial Remuneration and Conditions of Service 3.1 In accordance with the methodology and rationale for review as set out above, the Committee identified the following factors to be considered for the review of judicial remuneration and conditions of service.

Judicial Independence 3.2 An independent Judiciary, is the right of every Nigerian. Judicial independence is necessary, to ensure the rule of law. The Federal Government of Nigeria has an obligation, to guarantee the independence of the Judiciary. Judicial independence means that Judges are not subjected to pressure or influence, and are free to make impartial decisions based solely on facts presented and the relevant laws.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), enshrines the independence of the Judiciary. It is the duty of all governmental and other institutions, to respect and observe the independence of the Judiciary. Government also has a duty to provide adequate resources, to enable the Judiciary to properly perform its functions.

3.3 The Committee premised its consideration for judicial remuneration review on the need to uphold this principle of judicial independence, in order to maintain an independent and effective judicial system which upholds the rule of law and commands confidence within and outside Nigeria.

The need to maintain an independent Judiciary of the highest integrity, is of utmost importance.

Current State of Judicial Remuneration 4. The Committee is deeply concerned that the inability of successive governments to make progress on the issue of fair and reasonable judicial salaries, has dampened the morale of the Judiciary. The Committee notes a key finding of the TCJR which stated in its 2018 report that, ‘from May 1999 to March 2011, the Federal Government has reviewed the Public servants and Political Officers salary on four (4) occasions. Specifically in May 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2011. Judicial officers have been on the same salary structure for more than Ten (10) years, whereas the salaries of the entire workforce, the Military, Intelligence and other Chief Executives in Nigeria were reviewed in 2011. This has resulted in a situation where some of the Public Office holders whose salaries prior to 2011 were below that of the Judicial Officers, now earn more than them. Presently, the major parameters for pay fixing and pay relativities, seem to have been abandoned in the consideration of the salaries of Judicial Officers. The Judicial Officer’s present salary,

P NBA Committee Member, Chinonye Obiagwu, SAN

is evidence of a downgrade in the ranking of their job positions’.

5. The Committee observed that the TCJR, in arriving at its remuneration proposals, did not take into account the remuneration package for the Judiciary that came into effect by virtue of EAO/P/267/Vol.1/27 of 5th June, 1996.

It would appear that, an older remuneration scale was used as a baseline. The subsequent computations and projections resulted in less salary than obtainable, using their extant salaries as the baseline. The implication of this is that the remuneration proposals of the TCJR, which was presumably based on RMFAC’s review placed judicial officers at a disadvantage, unlike for the other categories of public officers, whose extant salaries were used. It must be emphasised that Judicial Officers were shortchanged right at the inception of the current constitutional dispensation when RMFAC came into existence, and erroneously fixed the first salaries especially for judicial office holders.

6. Without prejudice to the observation of the Committee concerning the non-consideration EAO/P/267/Vol.1/27 of 5th June, 1996, the finding by the Federal Government appointed committee that Judicial officers have been on the same salary for more than a decade, gives the most important justification for the urgent review of judicial remuneration Workload and Complexity of Judicial Work 7. The Committee submits that increasing workload and complexity of judicial work, is another important justification for judicial remuneration review. The Judiciary has been faced with the influx and upsurge of caseloads, especially since 1999. The Committee considered the annual reports of the heads of courts over the last decade, and found that there has been a rapid and substantial upsurge in cases in all areas of law. This has posed challenges, in terms of manpower resources and court facilities.

8. The Judiciary in these reports, pointed out that the caseload figures do not reflect fully the workload of Judges, and must not be looked at exclusively. They do not, for instance, reflect the complexity of the cases, which directly affects the amount of time and effort required of Judges to deal with the cases.

It is also very difficult to devise quantifiable indicators in a meaningful way, to reflect the increasing workload and heavier responsibilities

“For these reasons and the need to achieve the recruitment of exceptionally qualified persons and ensure the attractiveness of the Judiciary as a career for potential applicants, we propose an increase of 200% across board for all judicial officers”

NBA Committee Member, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa , SAN

of Judges. All the above are generally true for all levels of court, but the pressure is particularly felt at the levels of the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Increased complexity of cases not only means longer hearing times, but considerably more time is required for Judges to conduct pre-hearing preparation and to write judgements.

Recruitment of Judicial Officers 3.9 The ability of Nigeria’s legal system to function effectively and to deliver the kind of justice that Nigerians need and deserve, depends in large part on the quality of our Judges. The working conditions of the Judiciary, are having a detrimental effect on recruiting exceptional Judges. The Committee notes that poor working conditions of judicial officers is one of a number of factors that are currently affecting recruitment to the Bench, and is deeply concerned about the impact on the administration of justice. The recruitment of exceptionally qualified Judges and the attractiveness of the Judiciary as a career for potential applicants, are twin factors in strengthening the Judiciary. In order to achieve the goals of current interventions aimed at reforming the Judiciary, we need the best and brightest candidates coming forward for judicial appointment.

Retirement 10. Life in retirement of Judges, is an important element to be considered for the protection of judicial independence. It is generally accepted that pensions must be established by law, and be adequate and commensurate with the status, dignity and responsibilities of judicial office. Adequate provision for life in retirement, in fact, contributes to preventing Judges from seeking extra profits or favours, and better shields them from potential corrupt tendencies, practices and pressures aimed at influencing their decisions or behaviour.

11. The need for adequate provision of retirement allowances is further strengthened, when it is realised that judicial officers have a detailed code of conduct which must be strictly adhered to. For instance, it is unethical for a serving Judge to be involved in any business venture. A Judge therefore, is fully dependent on Government for sustenance. The code of conduct also regulates life after retirement. Another prominent provision in the code of conduct, is the prohibition against return to private practice. Judicial officers of the superior courts of record are prohibited by statute from legal practice, either while holding office or at any time after ceasing for any reason to hold office.

12. The Committee reviewed the current constitutional provisions on pensions, gratuities and other provisions currently available for judicial officers after retirement. In particular, the working group notes that the template for the computation of gratuity for judicial officers should be in accordance with Sections 289 (1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

That in line with the provisions of Sections 291(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the basis for computing terminal benefits for judicial officers should be their last annual salary and allowance.

13. Retired judicial officers, should be beneficiaries

of the ongoing review exercise. All pension benefits of retired Judges shall be automatically increased, whenever there is an increase in the salary of the same position from which he/she retired.

Benefits and Allowances 14. Judges are entitled to a range of benefits and allowances, in addition to salary. The package of benefits and allowances, is an integral part of judicial remuneration. This has helped enhance the living conditions of Judges. The Committee notes the need to review the existing package of benefits and allowances currently available to judicial officers, in recognition of the peculiar demands of the judicial office. The current official allowances are inadequate, in view of the status and work schedule of a judicial officer. The Committee proposes the following additional allowances in recognition of status and work schedule of judicial officers that deserve compensation, but are not included in the official list of allowances. These are: t 3FTUSJDUJWF -JGFTUZMF "MMPXBODF This is proposed in recognition of the limitations on lifestyle of judicial officers, imposed by the Judicial Code of Conduct. A Judge’s conduct, both in and out of office, is bound to be the subject of public scrutiny and comment. Judges have to accept some restrictions on their activities. Activities that would ordinarily not have attracted attention if carried out by other members of the community, could be an issue if done by a Judge. Judicial Officers are daily challenged to strike a balance between the requirements of judicial office and the legitimate demands of the Judge’s personal life, development and family. For example, by their code of conduct, Judges who are in need of loans can only borrow money from recognised financial institutions. They are prohibited from taking friendly loans or accepting gifts, including those of a monetary nature. Furthermore, the Judicial Officer is encouraged to lead an isolated life with few friends and acquaintances. This has implications on the Judge’s support network. Additionally, it is unethical for a serving Judge to be involved in any business venture. A judge therefore is fully dependent on Government for sustenance. These limitations impose real financial burdens, not borne by other public officers. t %VBM 3FTQPOTJCJMJUZ "MMPXBODF This is proposed, in recognition of the peculiar burden inherent in the offices of the heads of courts. In the entire public service, once an officer is promoted, appointed, or otherwise attains a higher office, he leaves the duties of his previous office and assumes the duties of the new one. This is not applicable to the head of courts who carry along all the duties of a Judge, sitting and writing judgements, in addition to the new duties of administering the courts. This deserves recognition and compensation. t %JTSVQUJPO #VSEFO "MMPXBODF This is proposed specially for Justices of the Court of Appeal, Federal High Court Judges and Judges of the National Industrial Court. Unlike any other public officer at their level, they are frequently transferred to all parts of the country. These frequent shuttle between States comes with a financial burden, cont'd on page IX

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especially in those cases where they have to relocate with members of their families. There is also the necessity and financial implications of maintaining two homes - the permanent residence and the frequently changing work residence. There is the need to recognise this work feature, and provide for appropriate compensation. t -POH 4FSWJDF "MMPXBODF The Committee observed the absence of distinction in the salary arrangements between newly appointed judicial officers to the Bench of the relevant court, and those who have served several years on the Bench. For example, a Judge who was appointed in 2022 will earn the same salary and allowances as the Judge who was appointed in 1990. Without prejudice to the reasoning that judicial officers in the same court should see themselves as equal and indeed, relate to each other as such, the Committee finds merit in the proposal to distinguish long serving judicial officers from newly appointed entrants to the Bench. t -FHBM 3FTFBSDIFST "MMPXBODF The Committee is persuaded by the several reports of the heads of courts, about the increase in the workload of judicial officers. This has practical implications, for justice delivery in Nigeria. The Committee also notes that in addition to measures currently being undertaken by the NJC on caseload management in our judicial system, it is necessary and indeed, desirable that judicial officers are in a position to hire qualified researchers to assist them in conducting research on matters before them. The idea of engaging legal researchers for Judges, is not a new one. What this allowance seeks to achieve, is to give Judges the freedom and ability to personally hire and pay suitably qualified persons, outside the bureaucracy of the Judiciary.

0WFSTFBT 3FNVOFSBUJPO "SSBOHFNFOUT 15. The Committee notes the judicial remuneration packages in two African Countries, namely Ghana and South Africa. Comparatively, remuneration of the Nigerian Judiciary is lagging behind by far, in terms of annual remuneration including benefits and allowances.

3FDPNNFOEBUJPOT UP UIF 3FWFOVF .PCJMJTBUJPO "MMPDBUJPO BOE 'JTDBM $PNNJTTJPO 3.'"$ PO UIF 3FWJFX PG UIF 3FNVOFSBUJPO PG +VEJDJBM Office Holders The NBA Working Committee on Judicial Remuneration and Conditions of Service, make the following recommendations for the consideration of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission: Basic Salary 4.1 The Committee notes the finding of the TCJR that ‘Judicial officers have been on the same salary structure for more than Ten (10) years’.

That was the situation in 2018, when the report was submitted. The Committee also notes that the salary review proposed by the TCJR based on the computations of RMFAC, placed the Judiciary at a disadvantage because of the non-consideration of the recent remuneration package for the Judiciary that came into effect by virtue of EAO/P/267/ Vol.1/27 of 5th June, 1996. The Committee further notes the status of judicial remuneration in other African Countries (Ghana and South Africa), and its finding that Nigeria is by far lagging behind. For these reasons, and the need to achieve the recruitment of exceptionally qualified persons and ensure the attractiveness of the Judiciary as a career for potential applicants, we propose an increase of 200% across board for all judicial officers.

"MMPXBODFT

NBA Committee Member, Folashade Alli, C. Arb

2. In view of our earlier observation on the need to revisit current judicial allowances recognising that the package of benefits and allowances is an integral part of judicial remuneration, and that these can help enhance the living conditions of judicial officers, we propose the following recommendations on specific heads of allowances: t .FEJDBM "MMPXBODF For reasons observed above, specifically as it relates to the workload and complexity of judicial work, including its effect on the health of judicial officers, we propose 40% of the basic salary as Medical Allowance for minor ailments that do not require hospitalisation, while other medical needs including overseas medical treatment and in-patient medical treatment in local medical institutions, should be subject to necessary approvals that obtain currently. t 3FOU "MMPXBODF Presently, rent allowance is 50% of the basic salary. The Committee notes that, in view of the nature of judicial work, which among others, places a burden on judicial officers to be selective in their place of abode, and given the high cost of accommodation in highbrow areas, we propose a 100% rent allowance across board for all judicial officers. t -FBWF "MMPXBODF 10% of the basic salary is currently paid as leave allowance.

This amount is however, inadequate for the purpose of the officer concerned going on a short vacation within Nigeria. We recommend an increase to 100% paid once in a year, so that it may realistically assist a Judicial Officer go on vacation within or outside Nigeria. t )BSETIJQ "MMPXBODF The present allowance is 50% of the basic salary for Judicial Officers. We recommend an upward review of the percentage to 100% for Judicial Officers.

This is based on the findings of the Committee,

“In recognition of the independence and uniqueness of the Judiciary, the Committee further recommends that Judges should be remunerated according to an independent salary scale to be known as the Judicial Service Pay Scale (JSPS). This will further enable judicial salaries, to be subject to regular reviews that are distinct from that carried out in respect of the civil service”

on workload and complexity of judicial work.

1SPQPTFE /FX "MMPXBODFT The Committee proposes the following new allowances, in recognition of the peculiar demands of the judicial office that deserve compensation but are not presently included in allowances available to judicial officers: t 3FTUSJDUJWF -JGFTUZMF "MMPXBODF This is proposed in recognition of the limitations on lifestyle of judicial officers, imposed by the Judicial Code of Conduct. We propose 100% lifestyle allowance for judicial officers. t %VBM 3FTQPOTJCJMJUZ "MMPXBODF This is proposed in recognition of the peculiar burden inherent in the offices of the heads of courts. We propose 20% Dual Responsibility allowance, for all heads of court t %JTSVQUJWF #VSEFO "MMPXBODF This is proposed specially for Justices of the Court of Appeal, Judges of the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court in view of the frequency of their transfers, including to mitigate the financial burden of maintaining two homes. The permanent residence, and the frequently changing work residence. We propose 50% Disruptive Burden Allowance, for the said judicial officers. There is the need to recognise this work feature, and provide for appropriate compensation. t -POH 4FSWJDF "MMPXBODF This is proposed, in recognition of the unfairness of newly appointed judicial officers earning the same salary and allowances with serving judicial officers. We propose 10% monthly Long Service Allowance, payable to judicial officers who have served on the Bench for a minimum of 5 years. t -FHBM 3FTFBSDIFST "MMPXBODF This is proposed in appreciation of the increasing workload of judicial officers, specifically with a view to achieving the delivery of well researched decisions. We propose 70% monthly legal research allowance for Justices of the Supreme Court, Justices of the Court of Appeal

and heads of courts.

Delink Judicial Remuneration from Public Sector Pay 3. The Committee notes that historically, there has always been an informal linkage between judicial salaries and senior civil service salaries. The Committee firmly believes that there is the need to delink judicial remuneration, from that of the civil service. Delinking judicial remuneration from that of the civil service will not only strengthen the perception of judicial independence, but will also provide the necessary safeguard and reassurance to Judges.

4. This recommendation has also taken into account, certain aspects that render it inappropriate for a direct comparison between the Judiciary and the civil service. For example, Judges do not have the consultative process on annual pay adjustment, which the Government has established with the civil service unions and staff associations.

A New Judicial Salary Pay Scale 5. In recognition of the independence and uniqueness of the Judiciary, the Committee further recommends that Judges should be remunerated according to an independent salary scale to be known as the Judicial Service Pay Scale (JSPS).

This will further enable judicial salaries to be subject to regular reviews, that are distinct from that carried out in respect of the civil service.

Separate Legislative Scheme for Judicial Officers 6. Furthermore, the Committee adopts in its entirety, the recommendation of the TCJR for a separate legislative scheme for salaries, allowances, conditions of service and retirement benefits for judicial officers. TCJR proposed a ‘Judicial Office Holders Entitlements Bill, to create a Judicial Office Holders Entitlements Panel to replace the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission as it relates to the Judiciary.

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TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

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Ethics and Discipline in Law: Akin to Waiting for Godot (Part 9) Introduction t has been said that the relationship of ethics and law, considers that conscience is the guardian in the individual (ethics) for the rules which the community has evolved for its own preservation (law).

There are limits to the law. The law cannot make people honest, caring, or fair. For example, lying, or betraying a confidence, is not illegal, but it is unethical.

While not every physical therapy practice act requires adherence to a code of ethics, all do require adherence to the law. On this note, we shall continue our discourse on this vexed issue.

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Measures to Control Indiscipline (continues) The Relationship between Ethics, Discipline and Law There is an ongoing debate, about the relationship of ethics and the law. In 1958 the Harvard Law Review published the famous Hart Fuller Debate, which addressed the relationship of law and ethics (Harvard Law Review, 1958).

Hart stated morality and law are separate, and Fuller opined that morality is the source of laws’ binding power. Ethics and law both address similar issues.

To make a somewhat distinction between the concepts, we may say that ethics focuses on actions of individuals and groups, and political philosophy centres on political institutions, such as the State or democracy. Legal philosophy is then the discipline that focuses on the institution of the law. It is the primary perspective, not the issue, which determines the discipline. We may, for example, study civil disobedience from the vantage point of each of the three disciplines. Ethics asks when individuals have a moral obligation to obey the law; political philosophy studies how the democratic State should react to civil disobedience; and legal philosophy analyses whether it is possible for legal institutions to take into account the specific character of civil disobedience in prosecution and punishment. Obviously, these analyses are related and partly refer to each other – yet they can be distinguished.

In Nigeria the basic national ethics and discipline include self reliance, patriotism, loyalty to the nation, honesty, dedication to duty, obedience to authority, respect of elders and seniors in authority, participation in national service, payment of tax, reporting criminals and members of cults to the Police, assistance to the poor and the needy, parental care, participation in an election, protection of government property and contribution to national development.

The observance of these ethics and discipline in national life, would instill national consciousness on the people. Once a person examines his conduct in line with its effect on the nation, he is bound to participate in the activities that will bring a good name and development of the nation.

It is the non-observance of national ethics and discipline in Nigeria that has given rise to fraud (419), political unrest, embezzlement of public funds, corruption, indiscipline, forgery, armed robbery, cultism in higher schools of learning, bribery, religious bigotry and fanaticism, exam malpractice, vandalism,

and smuggling.

Ethics, morality and discipline have been jettisoned in the conduct of national life, for financial gains. Much of the Nigerian problems in terms of development, are the resultant effect of non-observance of ethics, and the standard of ethical conduct in national affairs. A nation is said to be developed, when the standard of her discipline and social structures are measured in comparison with others in the developed society.

Ethics is the moral principles that govern a person's behaviour, or the conducting of an activity. Morals are concerned with the principles of right and wrong behaviour, and the goodness or badness of human character. Law is the system of rules that a particular country or community recognises as regulating the actions of its members, and may enforce by the imposition of penalties.

If you are ethical, you can abide by the law. If you are moral, you can be ethical.

Also, if you are moral, you can abide by the law. But, you can never be all three together.

Morality governs private, personal interactions. Ethics governs professional interactions. Law governs society as a whole, often dealing with interactions between total strangers.

Some people talk about their personal ethics, others talk about a set of morals, and everyone in a society is governed by the same set of laws. If the law conflicts with our personal values or a moral system, we

“Ethics, morality and discipline have been jettisoned in the conduct of national life, for financial gains. Much of the Nigerian problems in terms of development, are the resultant effect of non-observance of ethics, and the standard of ethical conduct in national affairs”

have to act – but to do so, we need to be able to tell the difference between them.

Ethics and morals, relate to “right” and “wrong” conduct. While they are sometimes used interchangeably, they are different: ethics refers to rules provided by an external source, e.g., codes of conduct in workplaces or principles in religions.

Morals refer to an individual's own principles, regarding right and wrong.

Morals and Law differ, because the law demands an absolute subjection to its rules and commands. Law has enforcing authority, derived from the State. It is heteronymous (being imposed upon men upon the outer life of men). Law regulates men’s relations with others, and with society.

A promissory note, is in force for three years. It is the debtor’s duty to repay the loan. It is the legal duty. The creditor can enforce legal action against the debtor, within three years from the date of execution of a promissory note before the court of law. The legal duty involves a corresponding right. The State provides organised machinery for the enforcement of the law. Legal disputes admit to the principle of alteration by legislation. Legal disputes can only be settled by an appropriate court of law.

Law is narrower than morality. It extends to a great number of such acts. The law applies to all the citizens, whether they want or not. Law cannot be changed into morals.

Morality demands that, men should act from a sense of ethical duty. Morality has no such enforcing authority, from the State.

It is autonomous (coming from the inner life of men). It governs the inner life of men. If the promissory note is time-barred, then the legal duty of the debtor turns into moral duty. Of course, moral duty is not enforceable before the court of law. It is also accompanied by a corresponding right. But right is not enforceable before the court of law. There is no such organisation for the enforcement of morals. Moral rules do not admit, even in principle, admit of change by legislation. Moral disputes can be solved by the mediation of caste

elders, village elders, etc. Morality applies to every human act.

Morality also applies to all persons. It it depends from person to person, from religion to religion, society to society. It is his/her pleasure to follow or not. But morals sometimes can be converted into law. Example: a donation to a charity institution, is a moral principle.

The income-tax recognises and exempts a certain percentage of income-tax, towards donation from the total income.

Ethics and Law - Ethics are rules of conduct.

Laws are rules developed by governments, in order to provide balance in society and protection to its citizens. Ethics comes from people’s awareness, of what is right and wrong.

Laws are enforced by governments, to their people. Ethics are moral codes, that every person must conform to. Laws are codifications of ethics, meant to regulate society. Ethics does not carry any punishment, to anyone who violates it. The law will punish anyone, who happens to violate it. Ethics comes from within a person’s moral values. Laws are made with ethics as a guiding principle.

It is clear that one cannot be Ethical, Moral, and follow the law. In today's society, following the law affects the morality of people. Being ethical, makes you look like you are against someone or something. What do you do? It is not to please anyone, but make sure you are satisfied with what you will follow. Choose wisely, because only two go side by side.

Ethics and Discipline in law: the Nigerian Perspective , a Case of Waiting for a Godot?

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria particularly made an unending relationship between the concept of ethics, discipline and law. The concepts are both in-operationally and constitutionally inseparable.

Any attempt to distinguish between any of the concept, will end up lopping into others.

In this regard, the Constitution of Nigeria, graciously sought to make a constitutional balance. See Sections 23 and 24 of the 1999 Constitution.

The various professions, such as the legal profession, medical profession and the others, have put in place sets of ethical rules to regulate the affairs of their members in the practice of their respective professions, and the application of which has helped to shape the conduct, behaviour and relations of its members. Example as stated earlier, is the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2007.

An ideal society where ethics and discipline in law reign, is realistic in Nigeria, if only Nigeria and Nigerians could have an unflinching resolve to have it so; otherwise, with the crop of politicians and citizenry Nigeria currently has, the case of ethics and discipline in law may be the tale of Waiting for a Godot.

Nigeria cannot become a State where ethics and discipline in law are possible, where Nigerians continually cherish bags of rice and a few Naira Notes, more than having a beautiful tomorrow realisable by good leadership. How can Nigeria be a society where ethics and discipline in law reign, where favouritism, ethnocentrism and tribalism all have a field day? It would amount to erecting a great edifice in the air, to expect ethics and discipline in law where we keep revolving, rotating and regurgitating old sets of people who have erstwhile dissipated the Nigerian economy as elected and/or appointed leaders. We cannot have a nation where ethics and discipline in law exist, where all we keep having as leaders are visionless, purposeless and directionless homo sapiens. Until those we have as leaders hold Accountability, Transparency, Responsibility, Discipline and Meritocracy as virtues, we will keep wallowing in a society where ethics and discipline in law are in abeyance. (To be continued).

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “In law, a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics, he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so”. (Immanuel Kant)

31.1.2023

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31.1.2023

XIII

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Mosque Bombing in Pakistan Kills 63 Worshipers A powerful bomb blast ripped through a packed mosque in northwestern Pakistan Monday, killing at least 63 worshipers and injuring more than 150 others.

The afternoon attack in central Peshawar, the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was carried out by a suicide bomber, according to police.

A senior police official in Peshawar confirmed the number of those killed to VOA and said he feared the death toll would rise as there are still worshipers unaccounted for and bodies unidentified.

A top security official, Deputy Commissioner Shafiullah Khan, said two survivors were found in the rubble.

“I am here at the blast site and supervising the rescue operation. The rubble is being removed, and we have just retrieved two survivors from under it,” Khan told state-run Pakistan television.

City hospital officials confirmed receiving dozens of injured and described the condition of several of them as “critical.”

The victims were mostly members of the provincial police force.

Survivors and rescue workers said the roof of the building had caved in due to the massive blast.

Police officials would not immediately discuss the nature of the attack, saying an investigation was underway.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif “has condemned the suicide mosque bombing” in Peshawar, an official statement said in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital..

Red Cross: World Dangerously Unprepared for Next Pandemic The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warns the world is dangerously unprepared for the next pandemic, and this will have severe health, economic and social consequences for countries worldwide. The IFRC has just released this year’s World Disaster Report.

In a marked departure from previous reports, the IFRC does not delve into the numerous natural disasters that caused untold devastation last year. It does not rank the severity of disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and drought in terms of deaths and the destruction of livelihoods and infrastructure.

Instead, the report focuses on the global crisis unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic and on warnings of worse calamities if the global community does not prepare for the next health crisis.

IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said the report’s authors conclude the coronavirus pandemic has been the biggest disaster in our living memory by any measure.

“I think no other disasters, the hurricane, earthquake, drought, or flood can compete in terms of the terrible human and socio-economic costs. Of course, the most conservative estimates tell us that 6.5 million people died from COVID-19 across these three years. But we all know that the real number could be much, much higher,” said Chapagain...

Turkey Signals Backing Finland’s NATO Membership, Ignores Sweden Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Monday his country would consider evaluating Finland’s NATO membership bid separately from Sweden’s. Until now, Turkey threatened to veto both countries’ bids after the burning of a Quran in Stockholm sparked outrage in Ankara.

The Turkish foreign minister told reporters in Ankara that Turkey is ready to assess Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership individually.

Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey could evaluate the Finnish and Swedish NATO applications separately.

Cavusoglu added that such an approach made sense, given one country’s application was more problematic than the other. The Turkish foreign minister’s comments echo President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement on Sunday, suggesting Finland would face little difficulty joining.

Erdogan also repeated his demand that Stockholm extradites 120 people whom Turkey considers terrorists.

Erdogan accuses the Swedish government of allowing its country to become a sanctuary for terrorist organisations fighting Turkey. Swedish officials insist the extradition demands are a matter for the courts. ..

Gunmen Kill Eight at Birthday Party in South Africa Gunmen opened fire on a group of people celebrating a birthday at the weekend in a township in South Africa, killing eight and wounding three others, police said Monday.

The birthday celebrant was among those gunned down in the mass shooting in the southern port city of Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth.

“The owner of the house was celebrating his birthday when two unknown gunmen entered the yard” on Sunday evening “and started shooting at the guests,” police said in a statement.

The gunmen “randomly shot at guests,” police said, adding, “eight people died while three others are still fighting for their lives in hospital. The homeowner is among the deceased.”

The motive of the attack is yet unknown.

Olympics-IOC Rejects ‘Defamatory’ Criticism From Ukraine The International Olympic Committee on Monday rejected fierce criticism from Ukrainian officials, who have accused it of promoting war after the body said Russians could potentially be given the opportunity to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak at the weekend described the Lausanne-based body as promoting “violence, mass murders, destruction” and said on Monday a Russian presence at the Games would constitute giving the country “a platform to promote genocide.”

“The IOC rejects in the strongest possible terms this and other defamatory statements,” the IOC told Reuters in a statement. “They cannot serve as a basis for any constructive discussion.”

Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba drew attention to the fact that many Russian Olympians had ties with the military, including by competing for sports clubs affiliated with the defence ministry.

“The army that commits atrocities, kills, rapes, and loots. This is whom the ignorant IOC wants to put under white flag allowing to compete,” Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

Russia has denied allegations that its forces have committed atrocities in Ukraine.

The IOC said last week that it welcomed a proposal from the Olympic Council of Asia for Russian and Belarusian athletes to have the chance to compete in Asia..

Monitor: Ten Dead in New Toll After Fresh Syria Strikes A total of 10 people were killed in a series of drone strikes targeting pro-Iran factions in eastern Syria, including three dead in strikes on Monday, a war monitor said.

A pro-Iranian commander was among the three killed in the drone strikes Monday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that they had been inspecting the site of strikes that had killed seven others the previous evening.

“A commander in an Iran-backed group and two of his companions, all of them non-Syrian, were killed this morning after renewed drone strikes,” the Observatory said Monday.

The commander’s pick-up truck was targeted while inspecting the Sunday evening strike site that destroyed a convoy of six refrigerated trucks transporting Iranian weapons to Syria from Iraq.

The convoy was struck in the Albu Kamal border region where pro-Iran groups have a large presence, said the Observatory, which has a wide network of sources inside Syria.

The seven killed Sunday were truck drivers and their assistants, all of them non-Syrians, the Observatory said, adding that they were “killed as a result of unidentified aircraft targeting a convoy of Iran-backed groups.”

Blinken Urges Israeli-Palestinian Restraint Amid Eruption of Violence US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Monday in Israel at a fraught moment in its turbulent relations with Palestinians and immediately sought to ease tensions after a recent outbreak of violence.

As he arrived in Tel Aviv after a brief stop in Egypt, Blinken condemned recent Palestinian attacks targeting Israeli citizens but also called for restraint in the Israeli response, saying all civilian casualties are unacceptable.

“To take an innocent life in an act of terrorism is always a heinous crime but to target people outside their place of worship is especially shocking,” he said, referring to an attack last Friday that killed seven people, many of whom were leaving a Jerusalem synagogue.

“We condemn it in the strongest terms,” he said. “We condemn all those who celebrate these and any other acts of terrorism that take civilian lives, no matter who the victim is or what they believe. Calls for vengeance against more innocent victims are not the answer. And acts of retaliatory violence against civilians are never justified.”

India’s Main Opposition Party Ends ‘End Hatred’ March in Kashmir The streets of Srinagar reverberated with the slogans of “End Hatred, Unite India” and “Hail Mother India” on Sunday

as thousands of people from different parts of India marched together to mark the end of a nationwide “Bharat Jodo Yatra” or “Unite India” March in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Tight security arrangements were made in the region to prevent violence and ensure the march reached a peaceful conclusion. Residents were barred from moving outside as strict restrictions were imposed at multiple locations in Srinagar, the region’s capital city.

The 135-day march was organized to protest the Hindu nationalist policies of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Indian National Congress, or INC, the country’s largest opposition party, kicked off the march in September from Kanyakumari, a coastal town of the south Indian state, Tamil Nadu.

Rahul Gandhi, a member of parliament and the former president of INC, led the 4,080km journey across the country.

Millions of people joined the caravan for periods as the procession of 118 permanent travellers moved through 75 districts of various Indian states, according to Jairam Ramesh, media spokesman for INC. He was referring to the alleged persecution of minorities and other communities living in India under the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Iran Summons Senior Ukraine Diplomat over Comments on Drone Strike Iran summoned Ukraine’s charge d’affaires in Tehran on Monday over his country’s comments on a drone strike on a military factory in the central Iranian province of Isfahan, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

In Ukraine, which accuses Iran of supplying hundreds of drones to Russia to attack civilian targets in Ukrainian cities far from the front, a senior aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy linked the incident directly to the war there.

“Explosive night in Iran,” Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted on Sunday. “Did warn you.”

“War logic is inexorable & murderous.

It bills the authors & accomplices strictly.

Panic in RF - endless mobilization, missile defence in Moscow, trenches 1000 km away, bomb shelters preparation. Explosive night in Iran - drone & missile production, oil refineries. did warn you,” added the tweet.

A US official told Reuters that Israel appears to have been behind the attack.

Iran had acknowledged sending drones to Russia but saID they were sent before Moscow invaded Ukraine last year. Moscow denies its forces use Iranian drones in Ukraine, although many have been shot down and recovered there.

Boris Johnson: Putin Threatened UK with Missile Strike In a new BBC documentary, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened Britain with a missile strike.

Johnson says the conversation took place during a phone call in the run-up to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February of last year.

Johnson recalled the Russian leader saying, “It would only take a minute...

Jolly.” Johnson, however, said he did not take the threat seriously in their “extraordinary” call. “He was just playing along with my attempts to get him to negotiate,” Johnson said of Putin.

“It’s a lie,” a Kremlin spokesman told reporters about Johnson’s interpretation of the telephone conversation. “There were no threats of missiles.”

Johnson also told the BBC he tried to dissuade Putin from war, telling him Ukraine would not be joining NATO for the “foreseeable future.” Johnson also said he told the Russian leader that an invasion of Ukraine would lead to Western sanctions.

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TUESDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

How December 25 Became Christmas

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any people would read what is written below and rather than respond, they will react. And their reaction will be because of a lifetime of religious programming, based on dogma, which essentially is the result of other people’s understanding and agenda.

The fact is that God gave us Scripture to guide us. The reality is that men have preferred to be guided by other men, rather than by Scripture. Proving true the adage that man is god to man.

Let me explain to you how propaganda can affect you and your generations and start a tradition that is entirely built on lies.

Actually, carrots do little to improve eyesight.

The propaganda arose because Britain had to find a cover story to explain the accuracy of their pilots during World War 2. They didn’t want the Germans to know it was due to radar, so they gave the credit to carrots. Research it.

But here we are, 78 years after the Second World War and you and your family are still eating carrots like crazy, because you want good eyesight. That is why you should not blindly believe what people tell you. Some of you have married the wrong person, or rejected the right person, because of a ‘carrot’ propaganda you heard, that was not even true. And now, you and your lineage are bearing the consequences.

Believe it or not, the celebration of Christmas is not a celebration of the birth of Jesus as you were told in church or at school. Christmas has nothing to do with The Bible or with Yehoshua (Jesus’ real name). Rather, Christmas is a successful attempt to Christianise a previously pagan festival. The reasoning behind this passing off of paganism as Christianity is because as Europe surrendered to Christendom (a completely different phenomenon not to be mistaken for Christianity or Christ followership), it became necessary in the eyes of the various kingdoms of Europe that merged with the Holy Roman Catholic Church to Christianise their pagan holidays and bring about a Catholic (the word Catholic simply means universal. It does not mean Christian) or acceptable holiday.

Thus Samhain became known as Halloween, the pagan celebration of the Winter Solstice known as Yule (hence the term Yuletide) became Christmas and the celebration of the goddess named Eostre, became Easter.

In truth, whether called by their original pagan names or their new Christendom names, none of these festivals appear in the Bible (the King James Version deliberately translates Passover as Easter in Acts 12:4 mostly because of King James’ strong association with demonology, but all other translations reject that and left it how the original Greek Scriptures described it-Passover).

The origin of Christmas is traced not to Christianity, or Christ followership, or even to The Bible. The roots of Christmas are from The Holy Roman Catholic Church. This is the official name of the Catholic Church. Don’t take my word for it. Google it.

Consider that name, The Holy Roman Catholic Church, for a second. Notice that in those five words, there is nothing connected to either Jesus (or Yehoshua) and God. The word Holy means it is worthy of devotion. It does not mean that it is divine or from God. The word Catholic means that it is universal. The word Roman means that it originated from Rome. The word church actually refers to a gathering.

So many people are deceived into thinking that Christmas originated in The Bible. For instance, in his Christmas message from last year, President Buhari of Nigeria said inter alia as follows: “The Holy Book describes Christmas as a festival of peace, joy, healing, hope and

Jesus Christ fulfilment.“ The statement above is a fallacy. The Holy Bible does not mention the word Christmas, nor does it mention that Christians should mark any festival surrounding the birth of Jesus the Messiah (Nabi Isa in Islam).

Christmas is a European holiday, not a Christian holiday.

It is celebrated in Nigeria and much of the world, for the simple reason that it was Europeans that brought modern-day Christianity to Nigeria, Africa and much of the world.

I have read the Holy Books of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and while all of them acknowledge the Messiah, NONE of them instructs believers to celebrate Christmas or the birth of Christ.

In fact, God deliberately made sure we do not celebrate the birth of His only begotten Son, Yeshu’a (Jesus) by keeping the actual date of His birth from us.

No one on earth knows the date of the Messiah’s birth.

What the Holy Bible, and Jesus specifically ask Christians to celebrate is the death of our Lord.

In Luke 22:19 Jesus says: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 11:26 reechoes the Messiah’s instruction when he said:

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”

The reason Jesus asked us to mark His death and not His birth goes all the way back to Solomon (Suleiman in Islam) who said in Ecclesiastes 7:1 that: “A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.”

The very last thing Jesus said before ascending to heaven is in Matthew 28:18-20, where He said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

These words are called The Great Commission in Christianity.

Jesus asked us to teach only those things He commanded us to teach.

Where did He command us to teach Christmas?

As a matter of fact, Christmas was not celebrated for 336 years after Jesus left the earth.

The first Christmas celebration was in the year 336 AD when the Roman Emperor, Constantine, converted the celebration of a

pagan mass to mark the winter solstice which glorified European deities. That festival was marked on December 25.

Do not take my word for it. I urge you, in fact I appeal to you to investigate these statements I just made.

That Christmas has become part of the Christian tradition does not mean that it has become acceptable with God. You and I know that Jesus condemned the Pharisees. Now ask yourself why Jesus condemned them.

Matthew 15:9 gives us the answer: “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.” I have already factually established that Christmas IS NOT Christian doctrine. It is the command of a man. To be precise, the name of that man is Emperor Constantine who ordered everyone in the Roman Empire to celebrate the Winter Solstice as Christmas beginning from 336 AD. This is the epitome of satanism because The Bible warns us in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that: “for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

If satan asks any true child of God to celebrate a pagan satanic ritual festival, they will never do it. So satan just transformed a satanic ritual festival by giving it a new name - CHRISTMAS, and voila, Christians begin to celebrate what Jesus did not command us to celebrate.

Christmas is an abomination and a blasphemous festival and the Bible warned us about it in 1 Timothy 4:1 that: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”

Let me ask you a question. If Jesus and the Bible don’t teach Christmas, from where and who does it come from?

Acts 26:18 says Jesus came “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God”.

“The dominion of satan” has always been associated with darkness. Pause for a moment and think about that.

Do you know the day with the longest period of darkness in a year? That day is the Winter Solstice also known as Christmas Day! That day represents, in the eyes of the occult, the victory of darkness over light (which will never happen).

Don’t take my word for it. Google it.

After reading this and you want to disagree with me, please quote the biblical verses that support your argument and not what your pastor or a book other than the Bible says.

Christians are the most gullible people.

Today’s churches will celebrate anything as long as it is popular. Churches of this age even celebrate Halloween. Yes, Halloween.

They attempt to Christianise it.

This is why Jesus said “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"-Luke 18:8

Reno’s Nuggets Dear men, Before cutting off your mother, because your wife said she is evil, look at your navel. It connected you to your mother via an umbilical cord for 9 months. Now, look at your wedding ring. Between a ring and a navel, which connection should be stronger? Love your wife and your mother, but NEVER allow a new wife to chase away an old mother. Once you are foolish enough to allow that, you have cut off your right hand. If the new wife now instals her mother after displacing yours, you have also lost your left hand. Nobody can love a man more than his mum! #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

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T H I S D AY ˾ DAY ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͱ

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email: chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 07010510430

Developing African-led Solutions to Transnational Challenges through Exercise Obangame Express Exercise Obangame Express, the largest annual multinational maritime exercise of Western and Central Africa, kicked off last Friday with 33 participating African nations and international partners. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that the exercise, which is in its 12th year and with the Nigerian Navy as the host, is targeted at developing African-led solutions to shared transnational challenges and promotion of global security

L-R: Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo; United States Navy Vice Admiral serving as the commander of the United States Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, Thomas Edward Ishee; and Consul General U.S. Consulate General Lagos Will Stevens at the opening ceremony of Exercise Obangame Express 2023 in Lagos

Vice Admiral Gambo with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and reps from US Government and other sister agencies during the flag off

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According to him, it is thus envisaged that Nigeria and indeed the Nigerian Navy would provide a lead role in this regard. " Accordingly, Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS 2023 presents another opportunity for the Nigerian Navy to work together with regional and friendly foreign navies in the spirit of the Yaoundé Accord. This will no doubt enhance the African Continental Free Trade Agreement as well as development of sustainable Blue Economy."

or the Nigerian Navy (NN), its constitutional responsibility has always been mapped out- protecting the nation's maritime domain from internal or external threats, which might come in form of piracy, crude oil theft and trafficking.

To do this, the navy constantly seeks ways to hone its skills and one of such ways is participating in sea exercises or operations, either local or international.

This year, for the 12th time, they actively participated in the international and regional Exercise Obangame Express, a maritime interdiction and interoperability exercise, designed to not only boost the capacity of individual navies that participate, but also provide opportunity for partner nations to work together, share information and refine tactics, techniques and procedures to assist African maritime nations in building capacity to monitor and safeguard their territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Objectives Sponsored by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), the exercise is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activity.

Beyond this, the exercise creates realistic scenarios that reflect maritime incidents. While the Maritime Operations Centres (MOCs) are challenged to recognise these illicit acts appropriately and share with other MOCs, the exercise will also test each individual maritime force to patrol their EEZ and detect and prosecute illegal activity accordingly.

Also, the exercise seeks to assess and improve GoG law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security, inform African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership planning and operations, and shape security force assistance efforts.

Opening Ceremony Known as the largest multinational maritime exercise in Western and Central Africa, it kicked off its 12th year with 33 participating nations last Friday at the flag off onboard Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) KADA, at Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In his welcome remark, the Officer Conducting Exercise (OCE) and the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai, said the exercise would enable the Nigerian Navy showcase its prowess as well as have the opportunity for further learning, in order to continue giving its best services as constitutionally required.

Hosted by the Nigerian Navy, the exercise will also feature multiple at sea and ashore training events throughout the Gulf of Guinea and the Southern Atlantic Ocean, including exchanges on boarding techniques, search and rescue operations, medical casualty response, radio communication, and information management techniques The exercise is taking place across five zones in the southern Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of

Group photograph onboard NNS KADA before it set sail for Operation Obangame Express 2023 Guinea – stretching from the West African island of Cabo Verde to the Central African shores of Angola, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECWAS) and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

Present at the flag off was Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Godfrey Onyeama, who commended the Nigerian Navy and also hailed the United States involvement in global peace mission.

Participating Nations Participating countries include Angola, Benin, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Liberia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and the United States. Also participating will be the Economic Community of West African States and the Economic Community of Central

African States.

Cutting Africa Trade Deficit and Boost for Intra-Trade Disclosing that the Nigeria Navy deployed nine ships, two helicopters and its Special Boat Services (SBS), in his speech, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, said Exercise OBANGAME is capable of cutting down Africa Trade deficit by 51 percent and also boost intra-African trade by 33 percent.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is said to be capable of lifting 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty and boost the incomes of nearly 68 million others who live on less than $5.50 a day and boost Africa's income by $450 billion by 2035, a gain of seven percent, while it would add $76 billion to global income.

Gambo said the maritime industry and the shipping sector in particular constitute a critical driver in implementation of the ideals of African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

He said, gleaning from the foregoing, the Gulf of Guinea countries are already collaborating for the establishment of a Maritime Taskforce to further facilitate security and enhance international commerce.

Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS 2023 presents another opportunity for the Nigerian Navy to work together with regional and friendly foreign navies in the spirit of the Yaoundé Accord. This will no doubt enhance the African Continental Free Trade Agreement as well as development of sustainable Blue Economy

Active Role by US Government For the United States Government, Nigeria is an important partner in promoting a peaceful, well-policed Gulf of Guinea especially as it maintains the largest navy in the Gulf of Guinea region, thus critical to security and stability in Africa.

The U.S. shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation on the waters surrounding the continent, because these waters are critical for Africa’s prosperity and access to global markets.

Thus, through Exercise Obangame Express and other operations and collaborations, the U.S government has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Speaking at the flag off, Vice Admiral Thomas Ishee, commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet said Africans are in a better position to solve Africa problems.

He said: “The global importance and vast scale of the waters surrounding Africa provides an opportunity to work with our African partners to solve transnational issues. The work accomplished during Obangame Express strengthens regional cooperation and trust, ensuring African nations can continue protecting their coastal resources and sovereign waters.

"Over the last decade, the United States has steadily increased maritime security cooperation with partners on Africa’s Atlantic coast to improve maritime domain awareness capability and ability to protect their sovereign waters. A robust partnership between the United States and African nations is vital to achieve our shared priorities of strengthening free and open international order."

Also speaking, United States Consul General, Will Stevens noted that the world has become a village such that a problem in a particular region is seen as a global problem.

He said: "Maritime security is not a one nation obligation. Military exercises such as Obangame Express are part of a long-standing comprehensive strategy by the U.S. government to provide collaborative opportunities among African forces and international partners that address maritime security concerns such as trafficking in persons, narcotics, illegal fishing, and piracy."

Therefore, it won't be out of place to state that to a large extent, Exercise Obangame Express has been effective in terms of boosting surveillance at sea, given that each member nation in the region has specific exercises geared towards tackling the prevalent maritime challenges in their domain.

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JANUARY 31, 2023

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Massive Electricity Theft May Plunge 1004 Estate in Darkness Bennett Oghifo

T

he 1004 Estate Homeowners and Residents Association (HORA) is gravely concerned that there is a high level of electricity theft in the estate that is making it impossible for them to pay Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) for electricity and buy diesel for their generators.

In a letter, dated 26th January 2023, to the Homeowners and Residents, titled, ‘Unsustainable Power Theft Situation in The Estate’, the 1004 Homeowners and Residents Association’s Legal/Admin Officer, Ifeoma Ogbodo said, “We are forced to once again draw attention to the alarming level of power theft in the Estate. The revenue from

power is increasingly unable to cover power expenditure (EKEDC tariff and diesel costs).

“We are in a situation where we can barely generate 50% revenue to cover our consumption. EKEDC increased tariff

by December 2022, diesel is still hovering around N800/ ltr. With the level of power theft going on in the Estate, we can no longer pay EKEDC and diesel suppliers.

“EKEDC has recently served us notice of disconnection due to outstanding indebtedness.

This situation is unsustainable and cannot be allowed to persist if we are to maintain our current power supply services. If expenditure continues to outstrip revenue, that is, getting less for power consumed, it will eventually push the Estate into

darkness.”

The Association said it suspects some flats to have by-pass their meters and have prepared a list of these flats, also included in the letter, which are in Block B -65 flats; and Block D -54 flats.

According to them, “To avoid this unsavory outcome, (of being in darkness) we will, pending when we carry out the meter relocation project, watch list any flat with a power vending history of less than N35,000 per month, in this era of N200/KWH. The list of these apartments are published alongside this notice and they’ll be on the suspected power bypass/theft list until they show justifiable cause to be delisted from the list.

“We solicit the cooperation

of all residents to ensure that a few people do not plunge the whole estate into darkness

with their nefarious activity.

Any apartment on bypass or any HORA staff aiding such

should be reported using the email info@1004hora.org or iogbodo@1004hora.org.”

1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos

Julius Berger Promises to Deliver Rehabilitated Federal Secretariat on Schedule Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has assured the federal government over the quality of work to be done on the Phase 1 section of the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

Managing Director of the company, Engr. Dr. Lars Richter who was represented at the flagoff of rehabilitation works on the first Phase of the secretariat

by Regional Manager for Abuja Operations, Engr. Oliver Berger in a short speech said the Federal Secretariat was first built

by Julius Berger decades ago

and has stood the test of time.

“It might interest you to know that this building, the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase 1, for which we have been awarded a contract to rehabilitate, is one of our company’s proud legacies”, he said, adding that, “our company’s relationship with the Federal Secretariat Complex dates back over three decades. Oliver Berger recalled that “On January 22, 1990, Julius Berger was given the contract to build the Federal Secretariat,

and we are proud to say that the building’s structure is still strong to this day, making it a point of reference for quality construction.”

He further said the rehabilitation work will bring the building back to its former glory “and infuse it with an impressive touch of modernity”. The main work, he continued, “is fixing up the wet areas, which include tearing down and replacing all the plumbing components, tiles, partitioning walls, ceilings and

all the pipes and cables for the mechanical and electrical systems’.” Other aspects of the rehabilitation works to be affected by Julius Berger include repairing the roof by replacing the old felting that has reached the end of its life span; installing a new booster station with pumps to serve the entire building, rehabilitation works on the lighting, aluminium vents, natural stone flooring, glass panels and painting.

“The building’s two lifts will

be replaced with new ones, while the emergency stair cases will be upgraded for easier and safer exit. The 10th and 11th floors which were damaged by fire a while ago will now undergo renovations,” Oliver Berger said.

On fears of disruptions to the daily work of Government in the Federal Secretariat, he said, “…as it is our usual tradition at Julius Berger, working seamlessly on an operating site, we have come up with

a plan to fix up this building without getting in the way of the officials who work there.

Along with doing our work in phases and weekends, one notable intervention is giving the client portable toilets to use while the wet areas are being fixed”. He assured that the company will in conjunction with the users of the building ensure that all works are carried out successfully, while still providing comfort to the civil servants at work.

LFZC, NCF Sensitise Coastal Communities Stakeholders Converge to Address in Lagos on Sea Turtle Conservation Loss of Nigerian Professionals Bennett Oghifo Sequel to the sea turtle conservation partnership signed between the Lagos Free Zone Company (LFZC) and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), a series of activities began in December 2022.

According to a statement by the NCF, the ultimate vision of these activities is to promote the preservation of endangered sea turtles and reduce the impact of human activities on their population within the operational range and surrounding communities around the LFZC. The community awareness and sensitisation exercises on sea turtles that were embarked on aimed to achieve the following: support the ecosystem in mitigating the impact of human activities; educate and create awareness within and beyond the surrounding communities; evaluate the behavior of stakeholders towards sea turtle conservation; and promote environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

Sea turtles play an important role in maintaining marine and coastal ecosystems. Their ecosystem functions include nutrients recycling, maintaining habitat integrity, maintaining the ecosystem of coastal reefs and coastal dunes. Unfortunately, most species of sea turtles are currently threatened according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The decline in the population of these species is largely due to anthropogenic pressures on

the species and its habitats.

Activities such as commercial fishing, loss of nesting habitat, pollution, harvesting of their eggs, overfishing, direct hunting of sea turtles for meat all contribute to the decline of the species. As their population declines, so does their ability to fulfil vital functions in the marine ecosystems.

The awareness programme took place at Magbon-Segun hall, Okunraye Baale’s house, and Idotun hall with 115 participants drawn from Magbon-Segun, Okesegun, Ilekuru, Okunraye, Lujagba, Idotun and Itoke communities. Participants were educated on the role sea turtles play in the environment, how human activities have affected their population and the possible conservation actions to mitigate the impact of human activities towards the protection of sea turtles.

Some concerns were raised by the attendees, including availability of protein substitutes for sea turtles; livelihood intervention; handling accidental bycatches; accounting for damaged fishing gears; disagreement on the major causes of species decline; myths and beliefs; the roles of large trawlers in the species decline; actions on captured species; compensation for fishers in the case of damaged nets from accidental catch of turtles.

Some of the recommendations made by the stakeholders during the session were: continuous and consistent engagement with the stakeholders, education and awareness programmes in the surrounding communities to

close the identified knowledge gap, this will disabuse the negative perception towards the conservation of the sea turtles; monitoring of sea turtle activities along the LFZC operational areas to guide conservation efforts; livelihood intervention to deter dependence on sea turtle trade and consumption in the communities surrounding the Lagos Free Zone Company; expanding the awareness program to other stakeholders utilising the shore and the adjacent habitats e.g trawlers association; collaboration with the Lagos state ministry of environment and other relevant stakeholders on sensitisation within the communities; advocacy and enactment of laws in collaboration with the appropriate agencies both at community and at state levels; celebrating beach clean-ups and world sea turtle days regularly; Research on the roles and intensity of kills by trawlers at industrial levels and locals at community levels; and establishment of a sea turtle research and conservation center.

Among the participants of the awareness programme were traditional leaders, youth leaders, representatives and partners, fishermen, traders among others.

NCF is the foremost environmental NGO in Nigeria dedicated to nature conservation and biodiversity resources management. A key pillar in the 2021-2025 NCF Strategic Action Pillar (SAP) is “Saving Species in Peril”, designed to rescue and conserve threatened and endangered species like the sea turtle and many others.

Stakeholders in the health sector under the auspices of the Health Sector Transformation Coalition (HTC) have once again reiterated the need to put the issue of brain drain which has pervaded the nation’s health sector on the front burner as a new political dispensation draws near.

In a symposium held recently in Marriott Hotel, Lagos with the theme; “The Imperatives of Addressing Brain Drain in the Nigerian Health Sector”, the Convener, Dr. Jide Idris said the coalition was inspired to fill a gap in the polity by bringing together seasoned and upcoming practitioners across various segments in the health care delivery sector to address and proffer solutions to mass migration of Nigerian professional health workers to in search of greener pasture.

The coalition, according to Dr Jide Idris who was a former commissioner for Health in Lagos State consists of the various disciplines and cadres of healthcare professionals in the public and private sectors, drawn from across the 36 states, the FCT and the diaspora.

He also said that there is an urgent need to reposition Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system and reverse the tide of brain drain in the sector by putting health on the political agenda of the incoming government.

“With the aim of ensuring that the healthcare system in Nigeria is repositioned for efficiency and sustainability by proactively contributing to the development of health policies

and implementation strategies for the new administration in 2023 the coalition provides a fertile ground for generating and nurturing ideas from a bottom-up approach,” he added.

The first session with the topic: why young health professions want to “JAPA” addressed the reasons why this has recently become rampant from the perspective of the students and younger professionals who seized the opportunity to proffer various solutions on how to stem the tide.

The second session with the topic: Brain Gain; Thriving in the Nigerian Healthcare Space, Exploring the untapped Potential saw various professionals in the health sector who had at one time left the country but have returned to Nigeria and contributing greatly to the sector share their experiences and give insights to the younger ones on the untapped opportunities in the sector.

The symposium also featured panel discussions with the first session dwelling on “Why I must ‘japa’? Aspiration of a Newly Qualified Healthcare Professional” while the second session focused on “ Brain gain: thriving in the Nigerian Health Care Space, Exploring the Untapped Potential.

As part of the coalition’s activities, it held its first symposium in Abuja the Federal capital territory with the theme “Repositioning the Health Sector: Creating the Pathway for an Effective Health System, post 2023” where participants

unanimously agreed that one of the main challenges facing the healthcare delivery system is work force and the issue of Brain Drain.

Feedback from the Abuja symposium made the coalition deem it necessary to have another symposium to address this challenge and give opportunity to the younger ones in the sector to discuss the topic and proffer solutions, since they are the ones mostly affected.

At the end of the Lagos symposium, stakeholders concluded that the journey to repositioning the Health sector and reversing the tide of brain drain is a collective responsibility which political actors must necessarily buy into in order for it to come to fruition in due course.

They also agreed that given the importance of an efficient health care delivery system to national development, voters in the forthcoming elections should give adequate consideration to the track records of aspirants in the area of development of health care infrastructure and human capital during their previous tenures in office.

The symposium, which was a hybrid programme, was attended in person by over 250 physical participants and over 600 online participants, some of whom are managers of major health care delivery institutions across the country, former and current actors in health policy formulation as well as young and upcoming professionals in health care delivery.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023

25

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

J A N U A R Y

S & P INDEX

3 0 , 2 0 2 3

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

High Energy Cost Takes Toll as Diesel Prices Soar 182.6% in One Year

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The cost of energy supply has continued to take a depressing toll on Nigerians with the average retail price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) paid by consumers in 12 months soaring by 182.64 per cent.

The latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report showed that the cost of a litre of the fuel rose from N289.37 in December 2021 to N817.86 per litre for the same period in 2022.

Nigeria has faced rocketing

inflation in recent years induced in part by the rising cost of energy, weakening naira against the dollar, hobbled oil and gas production as well as misalignment between fiscal and monetary policies.

Many businesses have continued to struggle for survival, with some having to suspend operations due to surging diesel prices, as others have pruned down their staff strength to cut labour costs.

But on a month-on-month (MoM) basis, the NBS report covering last month, showed that the price of

diesel increased by 1.11 per cent from N808.87 per litre reported in November 2022.

On state profile analysis, the highest average price of the product in December 2022, the organisation said, was recorded in Ebonyi with N869.25, followed by Bauchi with N860.00, and Ondo with N856.36.

On the other hand, it added that the lowest price was recorded in Akwa Ibom with N773.75, followed

by Benue with N777.50 and Borno with N785.00.

Furthermore, analysis by zone

showed that the South-west had the highest price with N841.35, while the South-south recorded the lowest price with N798.54.

However, it is not just the prices of diesel that are negatively impacting businesses and individuals. The NBS also said that the average retail price for refilling a 5kg Cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or cooking gas increased on a yearon-year (YoY) basis by 27.00 per cent from N3,594.81 in December 2021.

But it rose marginally from 0.36 per cent on a MoM basis from

N4,549.14 recorded in November 2022 to N4,565.56 in December 2022.

Further analysis of the NBS numbers showed that Kwara recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of gas with N4,950.00, followed by Adamawa with N4,933.33, and Plateau with N4,917.50.

According to the report, Anambra recorded the lowest price with N4,182.14, followed by Abia and Rivers with N4,196.15 and N4,207.27 respectively.

In addition, analysis by zone

showed that the North-central recorded the highest average retail price for refilling volume of gas with N4,841.07, followed by the North-east with N4,593.99, while the South-east recorded the lowest with N4,386.39.

Also, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of gas increased by 0.67 per cent on a MOM basis from N10,180.88 in November 2022 to N10,248.97 in December 2022. On a YoY basis, this rose by 39.78 per cent from Continued on page 26

I n fla ti o n : L C C I Tasks FG, CBN on Support for Agriculture, Manufacturing Dike Onwuamaeze The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has tasked the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to focus more on policies that would provide support to the real sector and expand the country’s export’s infrastructure in order to contain

domestic inflation.

The LCCI gave this task in its reaction to the recent increase in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN in which it urged the CBN and the fiscal authorities to intervene with policies and instruments that could boost growth in the economy since rate hikes are known to weaken

economic growth.

The Director General of LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, said: “In Nigeria, we need to tackle food inflation from the roots looking at issues like targeted support to the agriculture sector, manufacturing and the provision of more export infrastructure for businesses to export more and earn more foreign

FOOD

exchange.

“We urge the CBN to look further inward at the peculiar situations driving inflationary pressures within the Nigerian economy. Rate hikes are known to weaken growth, and as such, it is expected that the monetary and fiscal authorities intervene with policies and instruments that are growth-boosting. We are also calling

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N35,000 – N45,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N35,000 – N45,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N32,500 – N42,000

50KG

KWARA

N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

N35,000 – N45,000

50KG

RIVERS

N36,500 – N46,500

50KG

SOKOTO

50KG

EDO

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

on the government to commence preventive measures against the expectation of flooding in 2023.”

Almona expressed concern that further increase in the policy rate would put additional pressure on businesses with the resultant effect of rising operating costs, low productivity and job losses.

“This was our major concern

regarding the implementation of more taxes, as provided in the 2022 Finance Bill. We urge the government to consider streamlining these issues such that they do not swamp businesses and render them unproductive and uncompetitive.

“Beyond the rate hikes, policymakContinued on page 26

T O D AY

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

N30,000

BEANS

50KG BAG

MAIDU GURI

N22,000 – N30,000

100KG LAGOS

N36,000

100KG

KANO

N35,000

100KG

DELTA

N36,000

100KG

ABIA

N35,700

100KG

BENUE

N32,000

100KG

KADUNA

N32,000

50KG

ENUGU

N24,000

50KG

LAGOS

N26,000

N60,000 – N70,000

100KG

DELTA

N35,000

N17,000–N20,000

100KG

ABIA

N36,000

26

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

COMMODITIES

PRICE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

100KG KANO

N20,500

ONIONS

N24,000 – N35,000

100KG BENUE

N27,000

25CL IBADAN N22,000 — N35,000

100KG LAGOS

N32,000

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N35000 25CL

PH

NAME OF COMMODITY

GROUNDNUT

SIZE

T O D AY PRICE

MAIZE

100KG

OYO

N10,000

100KG

IBADAN

N60,000

100KG KANO

N30,000

100KG ENUGU

N16,500

BENUE

N65,000

100KG DELTA

N14,000

100KG PLATEAU

N45,000

100KG

ABIA

N11,000

50KG

LAGOS

N9,000

100KG KANO

N9,400

100KG

N24,000 – N36,500

100KG DELTA

N34,000

100KG DELTA

N50,000

25CL

EDO

N20,000 – N35,000

100KG

N27,000

100KG LAGOS

N60,000

N23 000

100KG ENUGU

N45,000

100KG ENUGU

LOCATION

PRICE

IMO

25CL ABUJA N25,500 – N35,000

SIZE

STATE

25CL

ABIA

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

50KG

BENUE

N6,000

Projected €62.6bn Investments in Nigeria’s Food Tech Attracts Global Machineries’ Fabricators

Fashola: Truck Drivers Must Ensure Training of Members to Mitigate Accidents

Dike Onwuamaeze

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Nigeria’s investments in food processing technology that is projected to rise to €62.6 billion (Euros) in 2024, is attracting world leading fabricators of industrial machineries from 11 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa to a tradeshow in Lagos, Nigeria.

The tradeshow would enable them to display products that would facilitate local manufacturing of

goods and services in the country and enable Nigerian manufacturers to have improved access to finance.

The exhibitors are also being lured to Nigeria because the country’s enormous population growth that is estimated to grow from 206 million in 2022 to 411 million in 2050 would demand high sustainable investments in its agro-food processing and plastic printing and packaging industry.

The exhibitors, who are from

Germany, China, Spain, France, South Korea, Turkey, Belgium, Italy, Taiwan, Egypt and Tunisia, would be in Nigeria between March 28 and March 30, 2023, to attend the 8th International Trade Show that is being organised in Lagos by Fairtrade, a German trade show specialists.

Fairtrade said that Nigeria became the largest investor in food and packaging technology in Africa in 2021 with €346 million investments,

which placed it ahead of Egypt’s €341 million and South Africa’s €293 million.

It said: “In 2021 for the first time Nigeria became the largest investor in food technology. As food production has grown by 39.6 per cent in recent years from €26 billion in 2016 to €36.3 billion in 2020 and is expected to rise by 48 per cent between 2021 and 2024, from €42.3 billion to €62.6 billion.”

ECOWAS Electricity Regulator to Protect Investors’ Interest Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA), Kokou Laurent Tossou, has reiterated the organisation’s commitment to protect the interests of investors and participants in the regional power market.

Tossou was addressing the Chairman of Sunon Asogli Power Plant, Mr. Qun Yang, during a courtesy visit to the power plant in Kpone, Greater Accra Region, Ghana, a statement from the organisation said.

He noted that electricity production remains vital to the viability of the market, saying the regional electricity

regulator has approved critical documents for the development of the regional power market.

The statement said ERERA has also secured the approval of strategic documents such as the directive on the organization of the regional electricity market.

“The directive provides for member states to amend their laws to allow for open access to the transmission network, as

well as provide for third-party access to eligible customers on the other hand,” he added.

Earlier, the Chairman of Asogli Power Plant, Mr. Qun Yang, stated his company’s interest in the regional power market and its expansion plans to contribute to the success of the market.

Among others, the proposed plants will cover Liberia, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has urged members of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, (NARTO) to ensure adequate training of truck drivers to reduce accidents on the highways.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of NARTO in Abuja, the minister expressed concern over the spate of accidents along major roads which he attributed to reckless driving.

Fashola disclosed that in October 2022 alone, 499 Nigerians died as a result of accidents, explaining that over 2,000 were injured on roads across the country.

The minister maintained that the Buhari administration was committed to huge investment on road infrastructure to guarantee safety and ensure that Nigerians in haulage business reaped huge investments on their trucks.

He noted that NARTO must

promote training of their drivers by insisting on certification to avoid incessant accidents.

“Roads construction brings businesses for your trucks and employment for a lot of people.

By investing in infrastructure, this government is committed to ensure that you reap your investment on your trucks, “he said.

In his remarks, the National President of NARTO, Yusuf Othman, expressed concern over the poor state of road network in the country, but lauded the Buhari’s administration for attempting to address the situation.

“Bad roads have continued to be the major threats to the smooth and safe transportation of goods and people throughout the country.

However, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel as President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the utilisation of the sum of N621 billion Tax Credits for the repair and rehabilitation of 21 critical roads across the country,” he said.

Chairman Seeks $1.1trn Renewable Energy Investment Matched Spending on Fossil Fuels in 2022 NEDC FERMA’s Intervention in

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

For the very first time in history, investment in low-carbon energy technologies worldwide was equal to money spent on fossil fuels, according to BloombergNEF, a global strategic research service provider.

The amount of investment in cleaner energy technology in 2022 was $1.1 trillion, a study by the organisation noted. This came despite an uptick in spending on fossil fuels as many regions focused

their attention on energy security, it added.

Investment towards energy transition grew by $261 billion from the previous year — a 31 per cent increase from 2021. But the investment in fossil fuels was also simultaneously up $214 billion over 2021 levels, the report stated.

“The growth in fossil fuel investments in 2022 occurred against the backdrop of high commodity prices, with many oil and gas majors earning record profits. Increased climate

awareness has, however, made these companies more focused on share buybacks and diversifying to lower-carbon assets,” the researchers explained.

The historic shift in investment trends cannot be reversed, as lowcarbon industries are on the upward trend, despite clean energy supply not yet being a match for fossil fuels, the authors added.

The trillion-dollar investment in energy transition included renewables (solar, wind, nuclear),

storage, charging infrastructure, hydrogen production, and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage. It also included tech such as small-scale solar, heat pumps, and zero-emission vehicles.

The researchers broke down the investment into various categories: Renewable energy remained the largest sector at $495 billion (up 17 per cent year-on-year) and electrified transport was growing much faster and hit $466 billion (up 54 per cent).

Oil Firms Face Headwinds after Record $200bn Profit Haul Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Shell, TotalEnergies and BP reaped almost $200 billion collectively last year but fears of an economic slowdown, plunging natural gas prices, cost

inflation and uncertainty over China’s re-opening are dimming the outlook for 2023, Bloomberg has reported.

The five companies are expected to report $198.7 billion in combined 2022 profit in coming days, 50 per

cent higher than the previous annual record set more than a decade ago, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The tsunami of cash generated by the group over the past 12 months means the industry

can sustain dividend increases and share buybacks, analysts said. Crucially for shareholders, management teams held off on spending increases as commodities boomed, in stark contrast with previous cycles.

Road Repairs, Maintenance Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Chairman of the Governing Board of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), Maj. Gen. Paul Tarfa, has sought the intervention of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in the rehabilitation of roads in the North-East.

A statement by the Director, Communications and Public Relations in FERMA, Maryam Sanusi, quoted Tarfa as specifically mentioning the 2.5 kilometres road situated between Biu in the Southern Bornu and Gombi in the Northern Adamawa, when he visited the FERMA headquarters in Abuja.

He noted that the visit was meant to appreciate the organisation and to draw the attention of the agency

to the deplorable condition of the key road, stressing that this has cut off Biu from the neighbouring communities.

He also said that repair of the road will reduce the number of hours the commuters spend to access neighbouring communities and called on FERMA to shift focus to the North-east.

Managing Director of FERMA, Nuruddeen Rafindadi, in his remarks pointed out that FERMA will continue to be committed to making Nigerian roads better.

“Road infrastructure is considered most important in FERMA as it grows the economy of any country.

FERMA pays attention to the lives of people and do not underestimate the effect of projects like this in the lives of the people, “he stated.

Area (AfCFTA). With access to the African market, farmers in Lagos are encouraged to commit more investments into rice production, create more jobs, and provide more rice to beat the rising price of the product.”

LCCI also encouraged other state governments in the country to provide the needed infrastructure

to that could spur economic activities and growth in their respective states.

“We also call on the federal government to be sensitive to the massive private investments in various states and be more intentional in creating a stable policy environment.

Policy summersault has remained one of the most damaging factors to investors’ confidence,” the LCCI said.

that the South-east recorded the highest average retail price per litre of household kerosene with N1,203.95, followed by the South-west with N1,177.89, while the North-west recorded the lowest with N1,011.49, ”NBS said.

It further stressed that the average

retail price per gallon of kerosene paid by consumers in December 2022 was N3,753.38, showing an increase of 4.42 per cent from N3,594.44 in November 2022.

“On a YoY basis, this increased by 137.15 per cent from N1,582.73 in December 2021,” it stated.

INFLATION: LCCI TASKS FG, CBN ON SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURING ers need to consider more actions to increase and stabilise oil production levels to earn more FOREX. Better coordination of fiscal policies can complement the deployment of monetary instruments by the CBN.” The chamber also advised that businesses should also look inwards to source their raw materials instead of waiting for the CBN to allocate

FOREX to them.

“We have consistently advocated for more friendly policy and business environment that will attract foreign and domestic investment and improve productivity, particularly domestic food production,” she said.

The LCCI also commended the commissioning of the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Lagos Rice Mill at Imota,

the 18.75 killometres Eleko-Epe rigid pavement six-lane expressway, the first phase of the Blue Light Rail from Mile 2 to Marina, and the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture

by President Muhammadu Buhari as significant factor in driving development in Lagos State.

It, however, stated that to maximise the benefits of these

infrastructures and facilities, “there must be a connecting rail network that supports the movement of goods and persons to fully facilitate trade and commerce within the state and across the West African borders.

“With this connection, Eko Rice can easily move into the West African markets to explore the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade

HIGH ENERGY COST TAKES TOLL AS DIESEL PRICES SOAR 182.6% IN ONE YEAR N7,332.04 in December 2021.

The NBS report also showed that Benue recorded the highest average retail price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder with N11,250.00, followed

by Cross River with N10,892.86 and Ebonyi with N10,753.57.

Conversely, the lowest average

price was recorded in Yobe with N9,500.00, followed by Zamfara and Gombe with N9,706.25 and N9,750.00 respectively.

Similarly, the average retail price per litre of kerosene paid by consumers in December 2022 was N1,104.61, indicating an increase of

1.94 per cent compared to N1,083.57 recorded in November 2022.

“On a YoY basis, the average retail price per litre of the product rose by 136.04 per cent from N467.97 in December 2021. On state profile analysis, the highest average price per litre in December 2022 was recorded

in Abuja with N1,383.33, followed

by Akwa Ibom with N1,341.67 and Cross River with N1,300.00.

“On the other hand, the lowest price was recorded in Bayelsa with N864.58, followed by Jigawa with N904.76 and Rivers with N916.67. In addition, analysis by zone showed

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023

27

BUSINESSWORLD

OIL AND GAS

Fuel Scarcity: Any Respite for Nigerians?

In this piece, Peter Uzoho asks whether the setting up of a 14-man steering committee by the federal government to address the lingering fuel scarcity will yield any positive result.

O

ne major challenge facing Nigerians currently, which has been ongoing since early 2022, is the stress of getting petrol to either fuel their vehicles or power their generators. Amid the problem of shortage of the product is the arbitrary hike of its price against the government’s approved price of about N180 per litre. This is despite the huge subsidy payments which run into trillions of naira per annum. At every filling station in the country that has petrol to sell, from north to west, east to south, there are long queues of vehicles and container-wielding crowds struggling to buy fuel amid the hot sun and rain and at high pump prices. The pump of petrol which was selling between N162 to about N170 per litre prior to last year, suddenly started moving up to N200 per litre when the first disruption in the petrol supply and distribution system occurred in the first quarter of 2022 due to the importation of adulterated petrol into the country by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and its partners. Ever since, the country has not recovered from that event as the product scarcity and racketeering have ensured unavailability of the product till date. At the moment, a litre of fuel sells for between N250 to N600 per litre depending on the location. However, oil marketing companies have consistently blamed the shortages and price hike on the movement in market fundamentals including foreign exchange, inflation, geopolitical tensions in Europe, high cost of renting daughter vessels and the cost of trucking products to many parts of the country, partly the far north and east.

FG’S 14-MAN STEERING COMMITTEE Following calls by ordinary citizens and several stakeholders for the government to arrest the lingering fuel scarcity in the country, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government last week constituted a 14-man steering committee on petroleum products supply and distribution management, which would be personally chaired by him. Senior Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Horatius Egua, noted that the steering committee, which has the minister, Timipre Sylva as Alternate Chairman was expected to among other things, ensure transparent and efficient supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

However, while the government may be commended for finally waking up to the calls by Nigerians to arrest the fuel scarcity, the failure of such committees set up by the same government in the past, with different nomenclatures is enough reason to conclude that this latest steering committee may not address the problem. For instance, the federal government had in October 2019 inaugurated ‘Operation White,’ a critical transparency initiative to be carried out by an 89-man monitoring team for the tracking of movement of petroleum products in and out of the country including importation and distribution. Sylva had while launching the `Operation White’ project in Lagos, said the initiative was geared towards ensuring transparency and accountability of petroleum product supply and distribution in Nigeria, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The minister had stated: “It is critical that all hands be put on deck to ensure that every molecule of product imported into this country is utilised within the borders of this nation for the benefit of the Nigerian populace. This is a national imperative and a core thrust of Mr. President’s mandate for leadership of the oil and gas industry.

“Therefore, the task for us is to ensure that the petroleum products supply and

distribution chain in Nigeria is completely devoid of illicit practices including oil theft, diversion and smuggling of petroleum products, which constitute economic sabotage and haemorrhage of the national revenue through high cost of under recovery.

“To do this certainly requires diligence, commitment, courage and robust partnership amongst various downstream stakeholders. There is also a dire need to instil an improved culture of transparency, accountability and efficiency in the industry, streamline our operations along best practices by championing and implementing strategic reforms at every layer of the supply and distribution chain.”

Meanwhile, other terms of reference for this new committee were to ensure national strategic stock management, visibility on the NNPC, refineries rehabilitation programme and end-toend tracking of petroleum products, especially petrol, to ascertain daily national consumption and eliminate smuggling. To further ensure sanity in the supply and distribution across the value chain, Sylva said that he had directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to ensure strict compliance with the government approved ex-depot and retail prices of petrol. The minister further directed the NMDPRA to ensure that NNPC limited, which is the supplier of last resort, meets the domestic supply obligation of petrol and other petroleum products in the country. The statement stated that the interest of the ordinary Nigerian should be protected from price exploitation on other deregulated products such as diesel, kerosene and gas.

“The federal government will not allow misguided elements to bring untold hardship upon the citizenry and attempt to discredit government’s efforts in consolidating the gains made thus far in the oil and gas sector of the economy,” Sylva noted.

Other members of the committee include the Minister of Finance, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, National Economic Adviser to the President, Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs

Service (NCS), Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Commandant-General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Others include the Chief Executive, NMDPRA, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, Special Adviser (Special Duties) to Sylva, while the Technical Advisor (Midstream) to the HMSPR will serve as Secretary.

LAWMAKERS’ TACKLE NNPC, MARKETERS During its plenary last week, the Femi Gbajabiamila-led House of Representatives expressed its anger over the lingering fuel scarcity in the country, which has made life difficult for the citizens. The House called on the NNPC to urgently end the prolonged fuel scarcity and ease queues in filling stations in most cities in the country. It also ordered relevant security agencies to fish out oil marketers and other economic saboteurs that responsible for the fuel scarcity across the country. It mandated the relevant House Committees to investigate the matter within 48 hours and invite the relevant regulatory authority to appear before the House of Representatives.

The resolutions of the lawmakers were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored

by Leke Abejide. Moving the motion, Abejide noted that NNPC Limited was the only importer of petrol in the country, noting that the National Assembly had approved money for petrol subsidy to mitigate unforeseen circumstances in the areas of shortages of the product. He recalled that for over three months, there had been persistent scarcity of petrol in many parts of the country and the situation appeared to be getting worse, lamenting that as a result of petrol scarcity, Nigerians were not finding it easy in their day-to-day activities.

IPMAN, MOMAN ABSOLVE SELVES While many Nigerians point accusing fingers to oil marketers under the aegis of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) in the fuel scarcity quagmire, the groups have repeatedly

denied being the cause of the shortages and price increases. They claim that since do not import petrol as only NNPC does, they can only sell when the product is made available to them and also sell according to the price they buy, in addition to the costs of logistics.

According to the Deputy National President of PMAN, Zarma Mustapha, NNPCL is presently saddled with importing the products and distributing them to private depots, adding that independent marketers do not have depots. “As a marketer, you will buy that product for upward transmission to where your retail outlet is. You’ll transport it yourself,” he posited.

Underscoring the chaos in the sector, he noted: “There are a lot of confusions in the industry, which the government must come in and address these confusions so that the common man can get the product for the approved price.

“We cannot buy a product between 220 to 240 naira, transport it for about N50, which is already N300, and then expect the marketer to sell to the public for N200 or N190. It is not realisable,” he maintained.

On its part, MOMAN attributed the increase in the cost of petrol to the high rate of logistics, adding that the queues at filling stations were “caused by exceptional high demand and bottlenecks in the distribution chain”.

In a recent statement, the association noted that the major cause was the shortage and high dollar costs of daughter vessels for ferrying product from mother vessels to depots along the coast.

“Next is inadequate number of trucks to meet the demand to deliver product from depots to filling stations nationwide. These high logistics and exchange rate costs continue to put pressure on prices at the pumps.

“Over the past three months, staff and management of MOMAN companies have worked diligently at depots and filling stations to relieve the stress faced by customers through the Christmas and New year period.

“Our members have again agreed to extend depot loading hours as well as keep strategically situated service stations open for long hours to ease access to fuel for our customers”, MOMAN explained.

It added that the “final resolution to these challenges will be the full deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector to encourage the liberalisation of supply and long-term investment distribution assets. We urge the government to work towards this end goal.”

28

TUESDAY JANUARY 31, 2023 •T H I S D AY

29

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 27Jan-2023, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 197.15 198.30 4.25% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 11.81% Nigeria International Debt Fund 311.56 311.56 1.01% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 105.80 106.90 0.37% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.29% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.84 3.90 12.49% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.94% Anchoria Equity Fund 151.46 153.11 4.49% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.23 1.23 -0.32% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 22.80 23.48 12.38% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 537.02 553.22 19.03% ARM Ethical Fund 46.19 47.59 18.57% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.13 1.13 4.48% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.12 10.12% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.93% ARM Short Term Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 107.16% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 99.8 99.8 4.94% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,104.29 1,104.29 -1.97% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.09 2.09 3.27% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.36 2.41 7.73% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.05 1.05 0.62% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.31% Paramount Equity Fund 18.53 18.87 2.79% Women's Investment Fund 152.42 154.30 2.08% CHD Nigeria Bond Fund 109.29 109.29 11.39% CHD Nigeria Dollar Income Fund 1.06 1.06 9.20% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.00% Cordros Milestone Fund 140.87 141.90 2.36% Cordros Fixed Income Fund 106.25 106.25 10.00% Cordros Halal Fixed Income Fund 103.79 103.79 8.54% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 114.84 114.84 5.72% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.09% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.21 1.22 1.37% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.36 1.36 -3.71% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 11.41% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.45% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,108.56 1,110.63 0.06% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.28% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.08 1.08 10.38% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.11 1.11 43.93% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 105.12 105.12 1.76% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1484.73 1484.73 12.52% FBN Balanced Fund 205.85 207.29 3.08% FBN Halal Fund 124.13 124.13 13.14% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.84% FBN Dollar Fund 120.85 120.85 6.72% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 174.46 177.02 5.34% FBN Specialized Dollar Fund 104.75 104.75 9.12% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1

Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

Bid Price 4,299.58 3,734.57 100.00

Offer Price 4,331.09 3,734.57 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 29.44% 8.18% 13.82%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.14 1.14 5.97% GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.gtcoplc.bank; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.63 12.67 2.44% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.04% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.32 101.32 8.84% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.77% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 128.65 130.37 0.05% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 11.03% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,736.76 3,768.25 10.25% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 245.90 245.90 4.39% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.47 1.49 17.46% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 334.20 334.20 6.73% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 271.01 274.30 16.04% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.91% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,795.72 12,940.10 17.15% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.37 1.37 6.20% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 121.59 121.59 4.00% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 115.81 115.81 8.87% Stanbic IBTC Absolute Fund 4,594.72 4,594.72 8.01% Stanbic IBTC Aggressive Fund 3,407.52 3,450.66 22.57% Stanbic IBTC Conservative Fund 4,325.11 4,341.07 13.61% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.02 1.04 7.07% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.46 1.48 6.26% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.19 1.21 2.60% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.11 1.11 9.87% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.96 1.96 7.60% United Capital Eurobond Fund 125.90 125.90 5.87% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.80% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 14.24 14.37 2.67% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.30 16.46 3.12% Zenith Income Fund 23.70 23.70 0.62% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.45% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

114.09 53.06 101.31 9.91

7.63% 3.98% -13.22%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.31 137.69 107.37 17.40 16.40

14.41 140.09 109.23 17.50 16.50

2.30% 7.90% 7.39% 3.20% 2.94%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

106.75

0.00%

Fund Name

SFS REIT Union Homes REIT Nigeria Real Estate Investment Trust UPDC REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

T H I S D AY ˾ AY, JANUARY 31, 2023

30

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

SEC Harps on More Investments in Commodities Sector KayodeTokede

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has stressed the need for more investments especially by the private sector in the commodities trading ecosystem.

Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda stated this during an interview on the recently commissioned 32 metric tonnes per hour Lagos Rice Mill in Imota, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Yuguda stated that the capital market expects to see more private sector investments in areas that need to support the commodities ecosystem like storage facilities and also increased investment in mechanised farming in commodities like rice, hibiscus flowers and others that are in high demand in other parts of the world.

According to him, “This is a game-changing investment in Lagos state and I hope we will see more of these kinds of investments not only in rice but

in other areas of the food chain that we are currently producing.

This is the place that produces them as we have the climate for these commodities, if we get the necessary investments, we will be able to make our mark around the world.

“This is a demonstration that Nigeria has what it takes in the agricultural sector to drive investment. This rice mill is already collaborating with one of our commodities exchanges as they are going to be trading the electronic receipts of this rice mill on the floor of the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange. This is a very important development in the commodities ecosystem”.

He said the Commission expects to see more standards concluded between the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and SEC, adding that the adoption of these standards by commodities exchanges and other players in the commodities trading ecosystem would greatly boost activities in the sector.

“This is a very significant event, the size of this mill is very large, we are expecting that by the time it is completed and starts production fully, over 250,000 jobs will be created.

That’s a massive addition to the job creation in this country and the rice is going to be sourced from local producers.

That means a lot of foreign exchange that was previously being expended on importing rice from other countries will be saved.

“We expect this to be replicated in some of the other areas. Rice is very important because it’s a staple food in Nigeria and we have been importing a lot of rice. This is going to make a strong mark in the commodities system and we are making a lot of efforts with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to create standards for our commodities so that we can compete in the export market. Nigeria is an exporting country for food.

Halisi Tasks SMEs to Leverage New Markets, Technology A business development consulting agency, Halisi Consulting Company, has charged Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country to focus on creating new products and services for its customers while also embracing technology to remain profitable.

The founder and principal Consultant Halisi Consulting Company, Mrs. Tolani ThomasAllisson, on the sidelines of its inaguaral business seminar in Lagos, said going forward in 2023, SMEs need to find identify new ways to target their audience and create new markets.

She however stated that lack of access to credit still remains a

challenge to the growth of SMEs in the country.

In her words: “In Nigeria we do not really have credit for small businesses. One of the biggest challenges I have noted from my own experiences is that these businesses do not have finances for their inventory or to fund their operations. It is a struggle for business owners in a country where the credit system is not that great to get access to funding needed to grow their businesses. We at Halisi, we are trying to help these businesses solve this challenge by helping them

get investor-ready to help them access funding for their businesses.”

She added: “We are focused on SMEs and start ups with a mission to help them launch, grow and thrive. Our goal is to help these business owners launch their businesses and thrive in this harsh terrain. Our goal is to help these small business grow beyond the five year mark while also accessing a global market.”

She said Halisi would be targeting to penetrate new markets with East Africa as one of its goals, stressing that East Africa is rising as a major player in the tech industry.

100,000 Youths Benefit from JCI Skill-up Projects James Sowole ÓØ ÌÏÙÕßÞË No fewer than 100,000 youths have benefitted from the Skill-Up Projects of the Junior Chambers International (JCI).

The skill up project, were executed under the four pillars of the JCI, formed since 1956, to mentor and develop young people from 18 to 40 years of age.

The JCI Executive Vice President, Gafar Ogundipe, stated this at a news conference, that preceded the Area Council of Presidents meeting, held in

Abeokuta.

The meeting, attended by JCI presidents from tertiary institutions in the South West states of Lagos, Ondo Ogun, Oyo,Osun and Ekiti.

According to him, the beneficiary youth, were captured under the Skills Engagement And Development (SEAD), under the four pillars of the organisation’s objectives.

Ogundipe listed the four pillars of JCI as Individual Development; Business and Enterpreneurship; Community Development and International

Cooperation.

At the briefing, Olubukola Agbaje addressed journalists on the Southern Nigeria Conference, scheduled to hold in Lagos from April 27-30, 2023.

Agbaje said the conference, which will drawn participants who were members of JCI and non members, was meant to serve as meeting point for youths for exchange of ideas, on their Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Training as well mentoring on their employability.

New Engine Coolant Launched into Nigerian Automotive Market Mary Nnah BASF has introduced its Glysantin® branded engine coolant products to the Nigerian automotive industry.

Since 1929, Glysantin® premium engine coolants and antifreeze products have been serving the automotive industry worldwide. The products offer threefold engine protection against corrosion, overheating, and frost-ensuring that the engine’s cooling system works smoothly all year round.

Consequently, the products of the Glysantin brand have received the most original

equipment manufacturer (OEM) approvals from the large motor manufacturers.

With its unique chemical properties, the coolant enables a low fluid decomposition and low generation of hydrogen, making it a safety-optimized product, while ensuring optimal corrosion protection.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, BASF West Africa, Jean-Marc Ricca said, “In Nigeria, generation of power using diesel or gas generators is key to smooth running of facilities and industries.

Such Heavy-duty engines

have high demands due to their long operating hours and high load rates. With its long-life protection Glysantin® prevents damages and reduces downtimes thus ensuring a reliable power supply.“BASF has been delivering industry expertise and innovations to provide highperformance cooling solutions that meet the evolving industry challenges.

With this latest product innovation, the company now specifically targets the sector of generators and motor vehicle engines to deliver on the critical cooling requirements in safety and performance.”

L-R:Director&Head,InvestmentBanking,VetivaCapitalManagementLimited,OlutadeOlaegbe;Chairman,Africa Plus Partners, Anhad Narula; CEO, Nigerian Exchange Limited ( NGXTemi Popoola; Managing Director Africa Plus Partners Adeniran Ajakaiye; Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa Limited Ike Chioke; and Head, Securities Trading,Vetiva Securities Limited, Seun Osomo, at the closing gong ceremony for the memorandum listing of the N20.5bn Africa Infra Plus Fund 1 (Nigeria’s first carbon+ ESG-focused) naira-denominated infrastructure fund) on theNGXinLagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2022 Money Supply (M3)

49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

50,601.36

Money Supply (M2)

49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money

27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1)

21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits

18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net)

21,001,401.5

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net

6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money

14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation

3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ͰͲ ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $92.17 a barrel on Monday, compared with $92.09 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

31

T H I S D AY ˾ AY, ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͱ

Q4 2022: Notore Records N33.2bn Revenue, N7.2bn Gross Profit Kayode Tokede Nigeria’s leading agro-allied company, Notore Chemical Industries Plc, has recorded N33.20 billion gross revenue and N7.2 billion group operating profit for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2022.

The results are contained in the company’s unaudited report for the fourth quarter ended 31st December.

In a statement, the company’s

Group Managing Director (GMD)/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Ohis Ohiwerei said the Notore Plc showed impressive year-on-year (YoY) performance despite maintenance shutdown and gas supply limitations.

According to him, Notore Plc recorded gross revenue of N33.20 billion, compared to N25.71 billion in December 2021, with a 29 per cent YoY increase while operating income grew to N7.2

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

DEALS

F O R MARKET PRICE

billion, from N6.7 billion in Dec 2021 (an increase of 7.7% YoY) attributable to higher revenues from increased production.

Ohiwerei added, “During the fourth quarter ended 31st December 2022, the plant was shut down for preventative maintenance to increase operational efficiencies for financial year 2023.

As a result, there was limited production of Urea during the last quarter.

“The company’s preventative

S E C U R I T I E S QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

maintenance shutdown in January 2023. The Company is committed to continuous improvement and expects an upturn in production output once gas-supply limitations are resolved.”

On plans to improve on its performance, he said, “Notore intends to optimize the production of its product offerings including Notore NPK fertilizers, seeds, and rice with a focus on increasing profitability.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

The Company completed phase 3 of the Notore Rice pilot program.

“Notore’s market environment remains supportive, with the increase in food and plant production being a top priority in Nigeria. Like several developing countries in Africa, Nigeria has great fertilizer market potential as it is a key input to boosting Nigeria’s agricultural productivity and food sufficiency.”

Ohiwerei added, “With respect to the fertilizer market, the

AS O F

Nigerian fertilizer market will continue to grow as food security is of utmost importance to the Federal Government.

“A recent report from UNICEF projected nearly 25 million Nigerians are at risk of facing hunger between June and August 2023 if urgent action is not taken. The Federal Government continues to deepen its investments in the Agricultural sector through policies and initiatives to further boost the agricultural value chain.

3 0 / 0 1 / 2 3 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

32

TUESDAY, JAN ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

േ

േ േ

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 R O X P H

7 R S * D LQ H U V T ic k er

P ric e

J OH N H OLT NA HCO

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg % 0.8%

1.21

10.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

36.8

8.55

9.6%

GT C O

23.3

2.2%

17.1

-0.8% 0.6%

IN T EN EGIN S

0.69

9.5%

T R A N SC OR P

M A YB A KER

4.85

8.3%

UB A

11.5

6.4%

R OYA LEX

8.3

-7.1%

8.2

-0.2% 2.7%

C OUR T VILLE

0.50

C A D B UR Y

12.25

6.1%

N GXGR OUP

J A P A ULGOLD

0.36

5.9%

D A N GSUGA R

8.1

F ID ELIT YB K

6.5

1.3%

FB NH

4.7

0.0%

M A YB A KER

3.9

8.3%

PZ

10.75

4.9%

C H IP LC

0.68

4.6%

J A IZ B A N K

0.90

3.4%

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 D O X H

7 R S / R V H U V T ic k er WA P IC

P ric e 0.41

P ric e C hg % -8.9%

T R IP P LEG

0.96

-8.6%

R OYA LEX

0.78

-7.1%

H ON YF LOUR

2.18

-6.4%

UP D C

0.95

-5.9%

T ic k er

Value

A IR T ELA F R I

1065.3

P ric e C hg % 3.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

924.1

0.8%

GT C O

578.8

2.2%

N GXGR OUP

216.4

-0.2%

D A N GSUGA R

137.7

2.7%

UB A

94.0

0.6%

UA C N

9.55

-5.4%

LA SA C O

0.94

-5.1%

M TNN

91.1

0.0%

1.91

-4.5%

T OT A L

89.8

0.0%

0.29

-3.3%

N EST LE

72.0

0.0%

-3.2%

FB NH

54.8

0.0%

M A N SA R D F T N C OC OA VIT A F OA M

21.20

33

TUESDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

POWER FORWARD INITIATIVE...

L-R: Country Director Panafricare, Dr Patrick Adah; NBA Africa Vice President and Country Head of Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu; ExxonMobil Business and Government Relations General Manager, Adedoyin Adelabu; NBA All-star and 1992 Slam Dunk Champion, Cedric Ceballos; with the participants of the ExxonMobil, NBA Africa and Panafricare Jr. NBA Clinic and the Power Forward third place games in the girls’ and boys’ divisions at Stadium in Abuja.. recently

WHO Report: 1.65bn Persons Require Treatment for Tropical Diseases Globally Lagos assesses prevalence in 20 LGAs Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Gombe The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said an estimated 1.65 billion people required treatment for at least one Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) globally.

This was disclosed in a new progress report, entitled, “Global report on neglected tropical diseases 2023,” issued yesterday by WHO highlighting the progress and challenges in delivering NTD care worldwide, amidst COVID-19-related disruptions.

It showed that NTDs continued to disproportionately affect the poorest members of the global

community, primarily in areas of poor water safety, sanitation and access to health care.

It stated: "Although as many as 179 countries and territories reported at least one case of NTDs in 2021, 16 countries accounted for 80 per cent of the global NTD burden.

"Around 1.65 billion people were estimated to require treatment for at least one NTD, globally.”

The new progress report showed that the number of people requiring NTD interventions fell by 80 million between 2020 and 2021, and eight countries were certified or validated as having

eliminated one NTD in 2022 alone.

The report stated that although more countries have eliminated NTDs, there was need for investments to sustain the progress.

WHO also stated that as of December 2022, 47 countries had eliminated at least one NTD and more countries were in the process of achieving this target.

It stated that accomplishments made between 2021 and 2022 were built on a decade of significant progress.

Speaking on the report, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated: "In 2021, 25 per cent fewer people required interventions against

NTDs than in 2010, and more than one billion people were treated for NTDs each year between 2016 and 2019 through mass treatment interventions.

“Around the world, millions of people have been liberated from the burden of neglected tropical diseases, which keep people trapped in cycles of poverty and stigma.

“But as this progress report shows, we still have a lot of work to do. The good news is, we have the tools and the know-how not just to save lives and prevent suffering, but to free entire communities and countries of these diseases. It’s time to act

Yahaya in Tumultuous Reception in Yalmatu as Gombe APC Consolidates Grip Segun Awofadeji in Gombe Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in company with some party stalwarts, were in Yalmatu West and East yesterday to present flags to candidates of APC for the House of Assembly election.

In Difa, the governor's campaign train was received by a jubilant crowd with songs of solidarity.

Addressing thousands of APC supporters and well-wishers, Yahaya said the presentation of flags to standard bearers of the party for the state House of Assembly was aimed at galvanising more support for the candidates from top to bottom, using the pedigree and landmark achievements of the party as a justification.

He sought the continued

support and solidarity of the electorate, assuring them that his administration remained steadfast in the provision of infrastructure and other social services with direct bearing on the lives of the ordinary people.

"We have substantially kept to our campaign promises.

To the best of our ability and within limited resources, our administration has been able to make impact in all the 114 political wards of the state, either through road construction, health care delivery or educational and human capital development among others," he said.

Yahaya, thereafter, presented the APC flag to Musa Manaja, the candidate for Yalmatu West Constituency in the state House of Assembly with a call on him and party bigwigs in the area to work for the victory of the APC. The situation was no different in Wade, Yalmatu

East, where Yahaya presented the APC flag to the candidate, Hon. Adamu Sale Pata, and also mobilised the crowd to keep faith with the APC in the interest of accountable and transparent leadership.

The governor broke a cheering news to the people of Wade, when he said the ongoing road construction from Garin koshi would be extended to the community for ease of commuting.

In their separate remark, the standard bearers, Musa Manaja and Sale Pata assured Yahaya of landslide victories of the APC in their respective constituencies.

The APC train also berthed at Deba, Kuri, Lambam, Dasa, Dumbu, Tsando, Garin Baraya and other communities in Deba emirate, where massive crowds received the governor and his team at all the places visited.

The Governor's motorcade drove through the recently

awarded road from Kuri to Lamban which is under construction.

now, act together, and invest in NTDs.” The report also noted the significant impact of COVID-19 had on community-based interventions and on access to health facilities, as well as on supply chains for healthcare products.

It noted that COVID-19 led to 34 per cent fewer people receiving treatment for NTDs between 2019 and 2020, even if a general resumption of activities enabled a 11 per cent increase in recovery in 2021, when approximately 900 million people were treated.

Meanwhile, Lagos State government said it has concluded plans to conduct assessment of the prevalence of some NTDs including Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis in the 20 local government areas of the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi who disclosed this after an awareness walk organised by the Ministry of Health and a non-governmental organisation, Mission to Save the Helpless (MITOSATH) to commemorate the Year 2023 World NTD Day in Lagos State, explained that the assessment

would lead to targeted treatments in line with WHO’s elimination road map.

Abayomi, who was represented by the Director Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam stated that WHO recognises 30th of January every year as World NTD Day because of the impact of NTDs and the growing concern of its burden of risk on national and global economies over the past few decades.

“Neglected Tropical Diseases are a group of conditions that affect more than a billion people who mostly live in marginalised, rural, poor urban areas and conflict zones. Although they are preventable and treatable, these diseases and their intricate interrelationships with poverty and ecological systems continue to cause devastating health, social and economic consequences.

“True to the name, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) seldom receive the attention they warrant. In order to end this neglect, the 74th World Health Assembly declared January 30th as ‘World

Zulum Visits Gwoza, Upgrades General Hospital, Sites Nursing College Governor Babagana Umara Zulum was in Gwoza town of southern Borno on Sunday, where he announced the upgrade of the Gwoza General Hospital to a Specialist Hospital, which would undergo some expansion, get more equipment and consultants for different specialised areas of medical needs.

Zulum also announced a plan to establish a new college of Nursing studies to be sited in Gwoza.

The Governor made the revelations, when he paid homage to the Emir of Gwoza, Mohammed Shehu Timta.

“Your royal highness, insha’Allah, we have appropriated the establishment of a College of Nursing in the 2023 budget and insha Allah,

when voted for a second term, we will ensure the college is completed during the first six months of our next tenure in office,” Zulum said.

The Nursing College, he explained, would train Gwoza residents and the neighbouring communities to be professionals in public health nursing, midwifery and other health-related courses with a view to providing affordable and quality health services to the people.

On the upgrade of Gwoza’s General Hospital, Zulum noted: “Your highness, in addition to the college, we will upgrade the general hospital to a specialist status which will serve as a reference hospital for the College of Nursing.”

Meanwhile, the governor, on the same Sunday, led stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to a campaign rally in Gwoza town.

Zulum, who addressed a mammoth crowd of supporters at the emir’s palace, where the rally was held, listed numerous projects executed by his administration in different parts of Gwoza.

He promised to establish a higher Islamic college and to prioritise youth and women empowerment.

All the stakeholders, some of whom were candidates for national and state assembly elections in February and March, urged the Gwoza people to vote for APC as they did in previous elections.

34

TUESDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

TOP MANAGEMENT MEETING AT THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND INVESTMENT...

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Evelyn Ngige; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo. and Director General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Farouk Salim at the quarterly meeting of top management of the Ministry and heads of agencies under the ministry in Abuja ... yesterday

Tinubu: Power to Elect New Leaders Rests on Electorate Promises to complete Ibom deep seaport Asari-Dokubo garners support for ex-Lagos gov in Rivers

Okon Bassey in Uyo and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has assured the electorate that nobody would deny them the opportunity and determination to vote candidates of their choice in the forth coming general election because the power to elect new leaders resided with them.

Tinubu, who spoke yesterday at a presidential rally held at the Next of Champion Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and the presentation of flag to APC governorship candidate in the State, Obong Akan Udofia, promised to complete the state deep seaport if elected president.

This is as a Niger Delta freedom fighter, Alhaji Mujahid Asari- Dokubo, has urged the people of the region to support the presidential bid of the former Lagos State governor.

Speaking, Tinubu told the crowd

that his power to become president of the country rested on them, promising to eradicate poverty, create employment and make Nigerians happy.

He said his presidential ambition was a revolution to change the hopelessness of Nigerians to happiness, guaranteeing that scarcity of fuel and gas in the country would be no more if elected as president.

"God will put you in the right direction to vote for the right person. I guarantee you that fuel scarcity will stop. You will not suffer again. Go and get your PVC and vote for the right person," he said.

Tinubu boasted that the APC would sweep all the elective positions from the governor, House of Assembly, National Assembly and president, noting that only the electorate could make that possible.

Promising to ensure that the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State saw the light of the day, he said he had completed a seaport

in Lagos and therefore, had the experience on how best to complete one for the state.

The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, said the crowd at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium gave indication of the level of acceptance of the APC by the people of the state.

On his part, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana

Okon Umana, said the people of the state believed in the APC presidential candidate.

The vice chairman of the presidential campaign committee of APC, Senator Godswill Akpabio, described the rally as a celebration of victory for Bola Tinubu.

Meanwhile, Asari-Dokubo has said of all candidates contesting position of the presidency, only

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has granted the national leadership of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) the request

to take over all cases pending at the appellant court in Rivers State.

The move came just as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has stated that it was an act of anti-party for the PDP to tell lawyers handling

Initiative to check farmer/herder clashes The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has established an animal husbandry farm with a cow milking parlour in Sokoto State.

The NALDA is an agency of the federal government that is under the direct supervision of President Muhammadu Buhari – and is charged with the responsibility to recover abandoned government lands for the development of agriculture to boost youth employment and achieve food security.

The Executive Secretary, NALDA, Paul Ikonne, said the farm would generate over 400 direct jobs for the people of the state and achieve self-sufficiency in food production.

He said the initiative would also restrict the movement of cattle which had often caused friction between herders and farmers.

He told THISDAY that the concept of animal husbandry was

broader and all-inclusive than cattle ranching.

Speaking after an inspection of the farm and the poultry feed mill facility, Ikonne said expressed satisfaction with the level of work at the facilities.

He explained that the essence of establishing a modern animal husbandry facility with 500-capacity cow pens, 200-capacity milking parlour, and Napier grass on 50 hectares, including the construction of clinics/veterinary sections was in line with Buhari’s directive on NALDA's mandate.

Ikonne said NALDA was committed to achieving food security and development, assuring that the farm would generate employment, hygienic milk production and cow fattening for meat.

Moreover, he said the farm would train and encourage young farmers to go into animal husbandry farming and animal food formulation.

Tinubu campaign structure, a victory for Tinibu would place the Kalabari Kingdom and all Niger Deltans in a pole position to benefit from the government Asari- Dokubo specially, urged the people of the Kalabari Kingdom to support Jack-Rick in his assignment as Chairman Finance Committee of the Tinubu campaign.

PDP NEC Takes Over Appeal Court Cases in Rivers as Wike Kicks

NALDA Establishes Animal Husbandry Farm to Unlock Jobs for 400 Youths in Sokoto James Emejo in Abuja

Tinubu has proven capacity to create a new Nigeria through development and good governance.

The Niger Delta freedom fighter spoke at the weekend, during the 48th birthday celebration of President of Belema Oil, Tein Jack-Rich at Harry’s Town Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He said, with Jack-Rich occupying a prominent position in the

He added, "The employment chain will not be anything less than 400, consisting of workers who would be directly involved in these activities, outside the output, which is achieving food sufficiency.”

He explained that, "NALDA is in partnership with Prime Ranch Limited, which donated the 100 hectares of land where we are establishing the animal husbandry farm, Napier grass field and will cultivate maize and millet on 30 hectares of the said land.

"The establishment of the Napier grass field is to ensure feed production for the cows as that will eliminate the roaming around of the animals in search of feed, thereby curtailing farmer/ herder clash.

"The milking parlour will serve both the cows in the farm and other animal husbandry farmers who would want their cows milked in a hygienic way.

"Prime Ranch will manage the

farm on completion based on their wealth of experience in animal husbandry. This type of partnership is sustainable, and productive and should be encouraged in order for us to achieve food security and development."

However, Founder, Prime Ranch Limited, Nafiu Yakubi, described the partnership with NALDA as positive for the development of rural agriculture.

He added, "The thinking when we incorporated Prime Ranch years back is to have a ranch kind of arrangement whereby we grow our animals, grow their feeds, fatten them, and sell them off to the market. The partnership with NALDA is a very cordial one. They support us in all areas that we need support from them.

"Arising from this partnership with NALDA, you have seen the feed mill. We are currently producing feed for our poultry and other NALDA poultry farmers."

legal suits on behalf of the party in the state to dissociate themselves from the cases.

Mr. Johnson Usman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had read a letter from the national body of the PDP to debrief all counsels representing the party in cases before the courts in the state.

When the appeal filed by PDP against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Accord and its governorship candidate, Dumo Lulu-Briggs and deputy came up, one of the counsels representing PDP from Ukala's chambers, Dike Udenna, requested and applied that the court should debrief them since the appellant in the matter had asked them to hands off the case.

He also requested and applied that they should be debriefed in an appeal filled by PDP against INEC, APC and its National Assembly candidates.

Other counsels in the case did not oppose the request and the new legal representation from PDP, Usman, requested that the court should give him time to study the cases.

The lead judge, Justice Joseph Shangbai, granted the request to debrief state PDP counsel and adjourned till February 3, 2023, for hearing.

However, in his reaction, Wike argued that instead of the PDP national leadership to support the suits by the PDP in Rivers, it asked lawyers handling the various legal matters to withdraw legal

representations.

Wike, said this yesterday, during the State PDP campaign flag off rally in Okehi, Etche Local Government Area of the state.

The Rivers State governor stated that anti-party begets anti-party and since the PDP national had started the anti-party game, it would get anti-party in return from his camp.

“We have caught them. They are the ones engaged in anti-party.

I told them anti-party begets anti party. You know we carried these small parties (APC, SDP) to court for failing to do what the law says.

“The people in Abuja that say they are national have gone to collude with them (opposition parties) to write our lawyers a letter that they should take their hands off, in order to kill the cases we filed. I have told our lawyers to withdraw from the matters. I will hit them back by tomorrow.

“Nobody hurts us without sustaining a scar. Anybody who dares to touch us in Rivers State, I will inflict many scars on him and we have started it. We are voting for our people here. Now you have told us you are doing anti-party.

We will show you what anti party is. Already, we have caught them red-handed.”

Wike emphasised that the forthcoming election was a battle that must be won, and urged Etche people to go home, get prepared by collecting remainder of their Permanent Voters Card with INEC and vote all PDP candidates in the State.

35

TUESDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

CELEBRITY PRAYSE...

L-R: Nigerian Stand Up Comedian, Ali Baba; Convener, Celebrity Prayse, Pastor Emmanuel Paul; representative of Lagos State First Lady, Mrs. Funke Shofola; President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN Ejezie Rollas and Comedian, Steve Onu-Yaw, at the Celebrity Prayse, theme: "Non Shall Be Missing”, held at Civic Centre in Lagos... on Sunday

NHRC Condoles Herdsmen over Alleged Erroneous Bombing in Nasarawa Michael Olugbode in Abuja The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has decried the alleged bombing of over 40 herdsmen in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, saying the incident was highly regrettable.

A press statement yesterday by the spokesperson of NHRC, Fatimah Mohammed, said the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, made the statement in Abuja over the weekend, while reacting to media reports on the alleged erroneous bombing of civilians, including herdsmen by the Nigerian Air Force.

Ojukwu demanded urgent action by the government by way of compensating the victims and holding erring officers accountable in order to forestall further occurrence.

He said it was quite unfortunate that the lives of some citizens were cut short in such painful and sad manner, noting that, “The loss of the life of one citizen is sad not to talk of 40 citizens. The Commission is seriously worried about the incident as Nigeria cannot afford such costly mistakes that usually take the lives of many innocent civilians because it adds to the number of extra judicial killings in the country.

“While we urge the federal government and the Nigerian military to ensure justice and compensation to the families of the victims. The NHRC will, in line with its mandate, monitor the development and seek the protection of the rights of victims as well as payment of compensations for the lives and properties lost as a result of the unfortunate incident."

He also used the opportunity to

Insecurity Reports on Abuja Overblown, Says FCT Minister Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Musa Mohammed has said many of the reports bordering on the security challenges in Abuja, the nation’s capital, were exaggerated.

The minister made the declaration yesterday at the 20th edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard (2015-2023) in Abuja.

He said although the nation’s capital had issues with security challenges, substantial progress had been made in that area through active collaboration between the FCT Administration and the security agencies.

This collaboration, he said, had been able to curtail the activities of infiltrates trying to relocate to the territory from various areas, where there were ongoing intensive military operation against terrorism and banditry.

The minister said security agencies in the FCT have remained alert and have through regular tactical and kinetics operations, ensured that the criminals found no abode in the territory, adding that the FCTA had also intervened by providing equipment and cognitive support to the security agencies.

“A lot of people out there try to over-blow the issue, but I am privy to the security report of what is happening in the FCT every 24 hours and as a matter of fact, every 12 hours. And I know that there is a lot of work that is going on and for every incident you read or see

on the Social Media, I tell you, over 10 cases have been nipped in the bud by our security agencies but we tend to look at the negative ones,” the minister said.

Bello said the situation in the country was a lot better than what occasions in most Western cities, adding that the federal government should also consider giving advisory to Nigerians about incidents in other places to reassure them that the security situation in Abuja and the country, by and large, is not as bad as it is being portrayed.

While describing land administration as one of the most difficult matters for him as the FCT Minister, Bello noted that land would be difficult to acquire in Abuja in the next 20 years unlike in the past when people were being invited to come and develop the city.

He said all the areas for development in Phase 1, 2 and 3 in the masterplan were allocated before the Buhari administration, adding that there was no point giving people false hope that they would have a piece of paper allocation for areas, where they would not develop in their lifetime.

He further assured the people that the Abuja Light Rail that was suspended, because of COVID-19 outbreak would commence service in May 2023 before the end of the administration.

He also hinted that 12 stations had been completed while road linking five of them were under construction.

appeal to the affected communities particularly in Nasarawa State where the bombing took place, to remain calm and peaceful and not to take the laws into their hands to avoid further escalation of the crisis.

The rights group, however, prayed

God for the repose of the souls of the victims and also asked that God in His infinite mercies, grants their loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

In a related development, the Commission has expressed concern

over the spate of killings in the South East, where rampaging gunmen have been gunning down innocent citizens with reckless abandon.

“We are, therefore, calling on the various security agencies and well-meaning individuals and groups

in the south east to appeal to all aggrieved persons and armed groups in the south east to lay down their arms and allow the south east to return to its former peaceful status and embrace dialogue and forgiveness,” it stated.

PROTESTERS BARRICADE ROADS, STONE BUHARI’S HELICOPTER IN KANO and honoured. ‘‘It is very important that we have understood the politics and we are respecting people from the bottom to upwards and this is common sense because people matter. ‘‘What the children see now is what they will hope to be in the future and the older ones hope that they can make their influence felt and improve the governance in the country from bottom upwards.’’

He thanked the Emir of Kano for associating him with the success of the traditional institution, lauding him for the vast improvement in the lot of his people, since he ascended the throne three years ago.

The Emir of Kano, who underscored the importance of the visit, thanked Buhari for granting approval to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the deadline for the phasing out of old currency notes, and by implication the implementation of the cashless policy. ‘‘This is an indication that the president is focused on alleviating the plight of the citizenry and indeed a listening leader,’’ he said.

The Royal Father added that the ongoing electioneering campaigns should serve as an opportunity for politicians to understand the challenges facing the people and devise a means to solving them.

He prayed for peaceful elections, as well as peace and prosperity of the country.

The president had commenced his visit to the state with the inauguration of Dala Inland Dry Port hosted by Kano State government in collaboration with the federal government.

The Inland Dry Port Project was conceived as part of the federal government’s ports reform programme designed to decongest the seaports, while also taking shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterland.

Buhari also inaugurated the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA)-funded 10MW Haske Solar Plant in a 24-hectare land in Kumbotso Local Government of Kano State.

The plant, which links industrial customers to an additional power supply, represents a significant step towards efforts to provide clean, reliable, and sustainable energy for

all Nigerians.

The 10MW plant is the largest completed solar plant in Nigeria and the first under the NSIA renewable energy platform.

The President also inaugurated the Family Homes Funds Estate, Darmanawa, Kano, which consists of 469 affordable housing units with ancillary infrastructure.

The NSIA funded the project with the sum of $16 million.

The president who was visibly excited about the project, expressed satisfaction with the quality of job done with the installation of the solar power plants.

He was accompanied on the inauguration by Ganduje; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; the Chairman of the NSIA Board of Directors, Mr. Farouk Gumel, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NSIA, Mr. Aminu Umar-Sadiq.

Also, in attendance at the event were Kolawole Owodunni, NSIA Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer; Mallam Ali Goni Kadugum, Executive Member Non-Executive Director; Olubisi Makoju, Executive Director; and kabir Suleman Oniyan The NSIA was appointed by the president as funds and project manager with a specific mandate to conceptualise, develop, construct and operationalise a 10MW solar project on a 24 Hectare parcel of land in Kumbotso Local Government, Kano State.

Haske Solar Company Limited – the project vehicle whose name means light in the Hausa language – is jointly owned by the federal government, Kano State Government, and the host Local Government – Kumbotso.

The inauguration came on the heels of the inauguration of the 2,600 Housing Estate on Potiskum road, Damaturu, Yobe State, a project executed by Family Homes in partnership with Yobe State Government.

On the Dala Inland Dry Port, the Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Sambo, recalled that in March, 2006 the Federal Executive Council had granted approval for the establishment of this critical transport infrastructure at chosen locations

across the country.

He said the infrastructure would undergo a concession to private sector operators on Public-PrivatePartnership (PPP) with a strategic framework to Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model. ‘‘Dala Inland Dry Port at Zawachiki in Kano State was among the six Inland Dry Ports approved and the concessioned went to Messrs Dala Inland Dry Port Nigeria Limited,’’ he said.

According to him, the dry port has been designated a Customs port with all the prerequisites of an international port including Customs, Immigration, Port Health Officials and Government security agencies.

He thanked Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State for his investments on infrastructural development particularly, road networks amongst others which has made the Dala Inland Dry Port a reality.

Reiterating that the Dala Inland Dry Port (DIDP) is a Port of Origin and Final Destination, the Minister called on national and international maritime practitioners, shippers, shipping companies, landlocked countries and port users to take full advantage of this facility for import and export of their cargoes.

On the 10MW Haske Solar Plant, the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, described the solar plant as a significant achievement in Nigeria’s power generation, achieving the energy transition goal as well as increasing the share of renewable energy in the power mix.

The Minister revealed that the construction of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant project is almost completed, while other power plants projects are at various stages of completion.

Also speaking, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed that over 16,000 houses have been successfully built in the past four years by Family Homes Funds Limited, under the guidance of the Ministry.

She recalled that the Ministry together with the NSIA established Family Homes Funds Limited with a structured approach to address the housing deficiency issue in the country.

Her words: ‘‘We had a vision to support your government’s housing agenda by ensuring we cater for the low-income earners of Nigeria by providing quality houses that are affordably priced".

According to the Minister, the agency now has a strong presence in all the six geopolitical zones and through its projects, created over 75,000 direct and indirect jobs. ‘‘There are completed and ongoing housing projects funded by Family Homes Funds in 12 states of the Federation and in the next two years, we intend to build additional affordable houses in all 36 states including the FCT,’’ she said.

While in Kano, the president also inaugurated the National Tier IV Data Centre under the supervision of Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, and office complex of Galaxy Backbone Limited. ‘‘The Tier IV Data Centre is the highest anywhere in the world and this is the best Centre in the country and the first in Northern Nigeria,” the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, told the president at the unveiling of the plaque to commemorate the formal inauguration.

The president also inaugurated the Cancer Treatment Centre at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyum Muhammadu Buhari Road Interchange at NNPC Mega Station Hotoro and Aliko Dangote Ultra-Modern Skill Acquisition Centre, Zaria Road.

PDP Condemns Attack on President

Meanwhile, the PDP has condemned the attack on the president.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement said, the organised attack on the person of the president was outright treasonable and a sacrilegious assault on the national sovereignty, which must be condemned by all.

The main opposition party said more disturbing was the fact that the APC presidential campaign allegedly sought to humiliate and harm Buhari, while performing his official duties in Kano.

Continues online

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TUESDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

MARITAL BLISS...

Mother of the groom, Lolo Nneka Mbadugha; Groom, Mr. Ikechukwu Mbadugha; Bride, Mrs. Somtochukwu Mbadugha; and Father of the groom, Chief JC Mbadugha, at the traditional wedding ceremony of Ikechukwu and Somtochukwu at Oraukwu, Anambra State…recently

Sanwo-Olu Directs Trial of Truck Owner, Driver in Ojuelegba Container Accident Segun James Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, ordered the trial of the driver and owner of the container truck that fell in Ojuelegba area of Lagos, even as the state government has commiserated with families of those who lost their lives.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, Sanwo-Olu identified the victims as Miss Blessing Isioma, Mr Abdurahman Okoya Sunday, 40 years; Mr Felix John Ifeanyi and Ms Olatokunbo Basirat King, 49years.

The statement said, Sanwo-Olu, after receiving an interim report of the incident, directed the police to speed up their investigation of the matter.

"Besides, he has given the fol-

lowing directives: The driver of the truck and the owner, who are in police custody, must be prosecuted; Ministry of Transportation and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) should meet urgently to find a lasting solution to the menace of falling trucks; and all the laws governing the operations of trucks and related vehicles must be enforced with more vigour and diligence," it stated in part.

Sanwo-Olu lamented that, "the incident of 29th January, 2023, is one too many and it shows the irresponsibility of owners and drivers of such articulated vehicles, who under the law should care for other road users.

"The Lagos State Government has zero tolerance for large containers that fall off trucks and injure or kill citizens, who are going about their lawful businesses.

"The driver, Sodiq Okanlawon

and the owner Wasiu Lekan of a container which killed three (3) people on the 26th July, 2020, on Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, Ilasamaja, were prosecuted and convicted on the 28th Febru-

ary, 2022, and sentenced to life imprisonment by Hon. Justice Okikiolu Ighile.

"The state government will, in a similar manner, ensure that the driver and the owner of the

truck involved in the January 29th incident are put on trial for the needless death of our dear citizens.

"This, we hope, will send a strong message to all those who have no regard for other people’s

lives that Lagos will not condone their recklessness. They must be stopped, with the strong backing of our laws, because their actions offend our avowed commitment to safety and decency."

‘Buhari, Tinubu Not Fighting over Naira Redesign, Fuel Scarcity’ Sunday Aborisade in Abuja Senate Deputy Whip, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, has said President Muhammadu Buhari was not at loggerheads with the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, contrary to widespread claims in some quarters.

Rather, Abdullahi, who represents Niger North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said the president was aware that Tinubu remained the best

candidate to sustain the laudable legacy projects and policies he had undertaken in the last seven and a half years.

Tinubu, had last week, at a rally in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, raised concerns that the current scarcity of the new naira notes and fuel crisis in the country were calculated attempts to scuttle his presidential ambition.

But the Senator, who spoke with journalists, yesterday, at the commissioning of the New Bussa Township Stadium, in Niger State,

said Buhari was doing everything possible to ensure that Tinubu emerged president through a credible election.

The New Bussa Township Stadium, which was remodelled and rehabilitated by the Senator was named after him for executing it as part of the constituency projects.

Abdullahi said, "Our party is intact. We are working very hard to deliver our party, because of the good work our father has been doing. He is aware and very

patriotically so, that he needs his legacy projects to be sustained.

"That is why he said as a democrat, he would allow democratic process to take place, that is leadership and that is how our presidential candidate emerged.

"As we are going to the national election, we believe as the president of this country, his duty is to make sure there is credible election. We are asked for credible election, and we are going to anchor our victory on credible election."

OSINBAJO BACKS PUSH FOR CASHLESS ECONOMY, SAYS IT WILL CURB ILLICIT ELECTION FINANCING Both urban and rural dwellers have been facing difficulties accessing the new notes as banks still load their ATMs with the old notes while cash swap agents were not receiving adequate amounts of the new notes for the rural people.

"We need to understand that this is our country and it is incumbent on all of us to make this thing(currency redesign policy) work.

"A situation where we have over N2.76 trillion or 84.5 per cent of money in circulation outside of the banking system is not healthy for our economy," Nwanisobi said.

The CBN spokesman emphasised that the cooperation of bank staff in particular was needed, "because the success of this policy depends on their attitude and how they conduct themselves."

"We don't want a situation where they hoard the new notes and then give to priority (special) customers," he said, adding, "Nigerians have the right to have access to the new notes."

The CBN team had at the weekend intensified the awareness campaign in the rural areas of Abia State focusing on cash swap which was targeted at making the new notes available to people with no access to banking services.

Operating in four teams, the CBN officials went into the local governments of Abia and monitored the cash swap implementation while also distributing hand bills and posters to further create awareness of the new notes.

The teams also met with the

agents and encouraged them to ensure that the abide by the directives of exchanging the old notes for the new ones and not to use cash swap as an opportunity to make more money at the expense of the people.

Ensure Success of 2023 Polls, UN Charges Lawyers

Meanwhile, Mohammed, yesterday charged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to ensure the success of the 2023 general elections.

Speaking at the State of the Nation Dialogue, she also tasked the umbrella body of lawyers in the country, to device mechanism that would effectively manage conflicts that may arise from the conduct of the elections which commences on February 25, with the presidential and National Assembly polls.

The State of the Nation Dialogue which is a maiden program of the NBA, had as focus: ‘Security, Economy and Administration of Justice,’ and also had in attendance experts and professionals from relevant fields as well as seven presidential candidates.

According to Mohammed, INEC has made a giant stride in ensuring a credible, free and fair election in the country.

She assured of the United Nations' commitment to ensuring a credible election in Nigeria, just as she made case for increase in the number of women in the politics of the country.

In his remarks, the National

President of the NBA, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, on behalf of lawyers in the country admitted failing the nation in the area of providing direction and leadership for Nigeria, a situation which he said was responsible for the unfortunately situation the country finds itself presently.

Maikyau, while noting that lawyers were first and foremost called to serve the cause of justice, lamented a drift to pursuit of fame and money.

While apologising to Nigerians for failing over the years to ensure right and quality leadership in the helms of affairs, Maikyau assured that the lawyers would henceforth turn a new leaf.

"I dare say, with utmost respect, that to a large extent, our experience today as a country is a direct result of the legal profession’s abdication of the duty to provide direction and leadership to the people.

“I must therefore, as one who is privileged to lead the Bar at this time, apologise to Nigerians for the abdication of our role.

"Today, as members of the Bar, we are reputed more for how much fees we charge our clients as opposed to the discharge of our primary call to offer guidance and/or offer ourselves for the advancement of the cause of our country.

“This apology is necessary because, no other group of professionals is called to this privileged position as the lawyers, which also comes with corresponding responsibility to provide leadership", he said.

While stating that lawyers have what it takes to bring about the leadership that will bring the succour and freedom Nigerians deserve, the NBA president, harped on the need to continuously engage government at all levels and thereby generate discussions that will provide Nigerians with sufficient information to guide them in making their choice of persons to occupy elective offices in the upcoming general elections.

He said, "Nigerians must be satisfied, given the concrete realities of our nation, with the practical solutions that are being proposed by those seeking elective offices with the current security, economic and political challenges.

Panelists who spoke on issues relating to security, economy and justice urged the presidential candidates present to shun religious and ethnic considerations in governance.

They also made a case for the engagement of competent and capable hands that would quickly bring about the much needed dividends of democracy.

Amongst the presidential candidates in attendance were: Hamza Al-mustapha of the Action Alliance (AA), Omoyele Sowore, African Action Congress ( AAC); Dumebi Kachukwu, African Democratic Congress (ADC); Sani Yusuf, Action Democratic Party (ADP); Prof Peter Umeadi, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prince Adewole Adebayo, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Daniel Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

FG Welcomes US Visa Ban on Nigerians Undermining Democracy

The federal government said it has no objection to the decision of the United States to impose visa restriction on Nigerians suppressing democracy as part of the effort to deepen democracy and curb corruption.

The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this in Abuja, at the 20th edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023).

“Let me be clear: Whatever action is taken against anyone who undermines this democracy that has been watered by the blood of many of our patriots is right and justified.

“For us as a government, we are proud to say that no Administration since Nigeria's return to democratic rule in 1999 has shown more fidelity to the democratic process than ours, and no President since 1999 has been as unambiguous as President Muhammadu Buhari, in word and indeed, with regards to leaving office after the constitutionally-stipulated two terms,” Mohammed said.

He said Buhari has left no one in doubt of his dogged determination to ensure free, fair and credible elections and handover to a successor elected by Nigerians on the May 29, 2023 handover date.

The minister also highlighted the president’s assurance of unprecedented support to INEC while also signing into law the

Electoral Bill 2022 which Nigerians have hailed as a reason to have confidence in the electoral process.

“You must also not forget our firm response on this same podium on January 10, 2023, to inquiries from the media over a widely-circulated report, credited to an INEC official, that the 2023 general elections face a serious threat of cancellation due to insecurity.

“We said and I quote, ‘the position of the federal government remains that the 2023 elections will be held as planned. Nothing has happened to change that position.”

He said the scorecard series was another indication of the administration's determination to leave office on May 29, 2023, with the ministers using the platform to tell Nigerians about the performance of the administration since assuming office in 2015. “We are in essence presenting our handover notes to those who elected us as an administration as we prepare to leave in May. “We are therefore proud that we have sent unambiguous signals to our people and indeed to the world that we will leave office come May 29, 2023. We have not been mired in any third term controversy like was witnessed under the PDP. “In fact, we are creating the template on a smooth transition of power that will guide future Administrations. Let those who undermine our democracy be sanctioned, and let them carry their own cross. As a government, we have no reason to worry because our hands are clean,” he said.

TUESDAY JANUARY 31, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

WE ARE FOR YOU...

L-R: Former Governor of old Enugu State and former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Deputy Governor of the State, Ezenwata Okechukwu Itanyi, and Governor of Enugu State and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, when the governor visited Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area for campaign and was endorsed by people… yesterday

NCDC Declares National Emergency on Lassa Fever FRQÀUPHG FDVHV GHDWKV UHFRUGHG

Onyebuchi Ezigbo inAbuja

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centre to strengthen the response to rising cases of the disease in Nigeria In a statement signed by its Director General(DG), Dr. Ifedayo Adetiba yesterday , NCDC said that it had activated the national multisectoral

Emergency Operations Centre for Lassa Fever (LF-EOC) at level 2 to coordinate and strengthen ongoing response activities in the country.

The DG said situation report of 22nd January 2023, showed a total of 244 confirmed cases with 37 deaths and a case fatality rate of 15.1 per cent from 16 states and the FCT. The states are: Ondo (90), Edo (89), Bauchi (13), Taraba (10), Benue

Police Arrest 28 Suspected Criminals in Nasarawa Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia The Nasarawa State Police Command arrested no fewer than 28 suspected criminals in the month of January, 2023, the state Commissioner of Police(CP), Maiyaki Muhammed Baba, has disclosed.

He stated this while briefing the press on achievements of the Nasarawa State Police Command in Lafia.

According to the CP, seven suspected kidnappers were arrested in the January month under review.

He said 16 suspected armed robbers, three cow thieves and two motorcycle snatchers were equally arrested, while four

vehicles and three firearms were as well recovered from some the suspected criminals during the command’s operations across the state.

Speaking when parading the 28 suspected criminals at the state Police Command headquarters in Lafia, CP Baba asserted that, the state Police Command under his leadership would not relent but increase efforts to audaciously clamp down on the criminals until they were subjugated.

“We appeal to all the good people of Nasarawa State to count on us and avail us credible information that will help to reduce crime to its barest minimum in the state,” CP Baba said.

(9), Ebonyi (9), Nasarawa (7), Plateau (5), Kogi (4), Anambra (2), Delta (1), Oyo (1), Adamawa (1), Enugu (1), Imo (1), and FCT (1).

He said that infection and

death among the healthcare workers accounted for 5 and 1 of the of the confirmed cases and deaths respectively highlighting the need for an increased index

of suspicion among healthcare workers.

Adetiba said the LF-EOC was activated following a risk assessment carried out on the 20th

of January 2023 by subject matter experts from the NCDC, relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), stakeholders and major partners.

New NYSC DG Promises to Take Scheme to Greater Heights

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

The new Director General (DG) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.

Gen. Yeshua Ahmed, has promised to take the scheme to a greater height.

He made the promise yesterday at the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja after taking over from the acting DG Mrs. Christy Uba as the 22 DG of the scheme.

Speaking after receiving the NYSC flag from Uba, Ahmed stated that collectively he and

the management staff would take the scheme to greater heights.

“I assure you that I will not only sustain the high tempo but collectively, we will take the Scheme to greater heights.

In this regard, the policy trust that will drive the

administration will focus on: improving security, welfare of corps members and staff to engender optimal service delivery to the nation;providing enabling environment for research and development for the advancement of the scheme,” he stated.

Group Asks NJC to Probe Post-Conviction Bail Granted Senator Akpan SundayAborisadeinAbuja

A civil society organisation (CSO), Professionals for Integrity and Good Governance(PIGG), has urged the National Judicial Council to probe a “controversial bail” granted to Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (YPP - Akwa Ibom North-East) who was convicted

for fraud.

A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo had on December 1, 2022 sentenced Akpan to seven years imprisonment on each of the six-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Co-Convener of the PIGG,

Mr. Morris Alozie, made this appeal at a press conference in Abuja. The text of the press conference was titled: “The release of SenatorAlbert Bassey from prison: A ridicule of Nigerian legal system and a call for revocation of his bail.”

According to Alozie, the bail is a setback for the fight against corruption

in the country if allowed to stay.

He insisted that even though Akpan was allegedly granted bail on the basis of ill health, he has continued to engage in hectic and physically exacting political activities and sports thereby making the reason for his bail highly suspicious and questionable.

N2.9bn Fraud: Court Jails Ex- Eunisell MD, Amadi, Liquidates Company

Wale Igbintade

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday convicted and sentenced a businessman, Kenneth Amadi, to 18 months imprisonment over fraud of N2.9 billion.

Justice Alagoa arrived at the decision, after finding

him guilty of counts 4 and 5 of the criminal charge filed against him by the federal government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

The court held that the conviction was without an option of fine, and equally ordered that his company, IDID Nigeria Limited be liquidated

with immediate effect. He was however discharged on counts,1, 2 and 3.

The day’s judgment was earlier slated to have been delivered on November 22, 2022, but was delayed , due to the busy schedule of the court.

The convicted Amadi and his company, IDID Nigeria Limited,

were dragged before the court by the federal government when he held sway as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Eunisell Limited, a company founded by Chief Chika Ikenga.

Prior to Justice Allagoa’s judgment, counsels had adopted their final written addresses on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) , Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna, yesterday said the commencement of the training of over 100 youths in Borno State on modern skills was part of the ongoing resettlement of those displaced by insurgency.

Haruna said apart from the training, the agency also distributed 500 smokeless stoves to women in the state in line with the federal government’s climate-change mitigation efforts.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the agency to collaborate with Borno State on poverty alleviation and restoration of full

socio-economic activities of the people of the state.

The NASENI boss, who spoke at the opening of NASENI Skill Acquisition Training and Youth Empowerment in Maiduguri, said the renewed peace fast returning to Borno State was commendable.

He said 100 youths from different parts of the state would undergo training on modern methods of

vulcanizing, explaining that the scope of the training was on “Train the trainers” and “Train the users.”

He said: “NASENI is identifying with the giant stride and achievement of the government of Babagana Zulum in the establishment of technical and vocational education for job creation, agricultural mechanization, and development of cottage industries.

Transcorp to Add 240MW to National Grid Resettlement: NASENI Trains Youths, Distributes Stoves to Women in Borno sector and which has also affected BlessingIbungeinPortHarcourt Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity will soon receive additional boost as Transafam Power Limited is expected to add 240Mega Watts this year 2023, the parent company, Transcorp Group has announced.

President of Transcorp Group, Owen Omogiafo, who spoke yesterday, at the inauguration of the newly rehabilitated GT20 in Afam, Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, disclosed that the Transafam Power was generating 188MW. She said the company took over the plant at 48MW of power generation and in less than a year and nine months it had grown it to 188MW out of the 966MW installed capacity.

Omogaifo regretted that inadequate gas supply has been a major challenge in the power

free generation of power to Nigerians.

She added that despite the challenge the Transcorp Group had made good success in power sector.

“All over the world, transformation is powered by power. Our first investment on power was Ughelli power plant in 2013, when we acquired it was 160MW but as we speak we are generating over 600M and we are contributing very strongly to Nigeria’s power sector.

“And it is the success of that investment that encouraged us to invest in Afam power plant despite the challenge of gas supply.

“It’s on record that we recovered Afam V GT20 on September last year.

We have added another 188MW to the national grid. We took over this plant at 48MW of power generation and in less than a year and nine months we have grown it to 188MW out of the 966MW installed capacity.”

JAMB Registrar Orders Suspension of CBT Centre over Violation of Rules in Kwara

HammedShittuinIlorin

The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB), Prof. Is’haq Oloyede has ordered the suspension of one computer based test (CBT) centre in Ilorin, Kwara state capital for allegedly violating registration rules.

He also said that, “as at yesterday (Sunday) 445,081 candidates had

registered and we are expecting about 1.8 million candidates to register.”

The name of the centre is Damdav and located along Olorunsogo area, Ilorin.

Oloyede made the announcement of the suspension of the centre in Ilorin, yesterday, when he paid an unscheduled visit to about six other registration centres

in Ilorin metropolis.

Other centres visited included University of Ilorin mini campus, Kwara state College of Education, Al-Hikmah University, Metro as well as JAMB centres all in Ilorin.

According to him, “I discovered in one place that instead of buying enough cameras, the owner of the centre bought only one. The name of the centre is Damdav CBT centre.

And the possibility of missing the photographs is there and we immediately suspended the centre.

“The centre will not be allowed to register or conduct exams until those things are corrected.”

He added, “We have not found one case of extortion. That is very gladdening for us. Our purpose is to ensure that candidates have confidence in the system.”

TUESDAY JANUARY 31, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

38

NEWSXTRA

EMPOWERMENT FOR THE PEOPLE...

L-R: Beneficiaries receiving tools from Borno State Head of Service, Mallam Fannami, and the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) , Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna, during the flag-off of a skill acquisition programme organised by NASENI in Maiduguri… yesterday

A’Ibom PDP, APC Guber Candidates Shun Political Debate OkonBasseyinUyo

The governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Umo Eno andAll Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Akan Udofia on Sunday shunned the political debate that was packaged by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State council.

Information on their withdrawal was officially communicated on the floor of the political debate after they had earlier indicated interest to participate in the exercise.

Candidates òf seven out of about 13 political parties in the State

showed interest in the debate but the candidates of PDP and APC sent in notes officially withdrawing from the debate.

Governorship candidates that took part in the debate included: Mr Iboro Otu of the African Action Congress (AAC), Mr. Ezekiel Nyaetok of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr David Essien, Action Democratic Party (ADP), Senator John James Akpanudoeghe of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Senator Bassey Akpan of Young Progressives Party (YPP).

The five governorship candidates that participated signed the Open

Governorship Manifesto to symbolise their readiness to run an open government agenda, if elected.

The manifesto, put together by Policy Alert and presented during

the governorship debate was aimed at committing the candidates to implement the Open Governorship Partnership (OGP) in the state when there is changes government in May

2023.

Speaking during the presentation, Senior Programme Officer of Policy Alert, Mfon Gabriel, said: “The OGP is a global multi-stakeholder

initiative that brings reformers in and outside of government to work together to create solutions that make government more transparent, accountable, and participatory.

Ikonne: PDP Remains Strong, United, Abia Gov Assures NWC The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has assured the members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and across the country that the party remained strong, viable and united even as it continues to mourn the death of its gubernatorial candidate, Professor Eleazar Uche Ikonne.

The governor stated these

yesterday while receiving a delegation of the National Working Committee(NEC) of the party which was on a condolence and solidarity visit to the state.

According to Ikpeazu, the death of Ikonne was a huge setback for the members of the party but the party is blessed with sufficient resilience and strength to deal with the situation

and bounce back to win the 2023 elections.

The governor thanked the National Leadership of the party for their show of support and solidarity with the Abia State Chapter at this trying moment, assuring them that the Abia PDP shall rise from the ashes of the current despair to record a massive victory at the elections,

adding that the PDP remains the party of choice in the State.

He used the opportunity to inform the delegation that the state caucus of the party had met and agreed to retain the zoning formula which would lead to the emergence of the new candidate from Isiala Ngwa North LGA, the home LGA of the late Ikonne.

Governor of Oyo State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard-bearer in the March 11, 2023 governorship election, ‘Seyi Makinde, has said that his administration has been taking decisions based on solid economic principles, noting that it is most particular about strengthening the economy of Saki to enable it to lift the economies of Old Ifedapo and

Old Irepo Federal Constituencies.

The governor stated this yesterday while addressing the Okere-in-Council at the palace of the Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi, noting that the government’s decision to fix the Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho Road was hinged on the determination to boost the economy of Saki and adjoining local government areas.

He added that the 46 kilometre road will reach Ogbooro in Saki East Local Government and Igboho in Oorelope Local Government within the next few months, while the administration will move on to fix the second phase of the road by linking Igboho to Igbeti and Kishi respectively.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor,

Mr. Taiwo Adisa, on behalf of the Media Committee of the governor’s re-election campaign council, quoted the governor as saying that under Omituntun 2.0, the government would move on to fix inner roads in Saki, including the Barracks-Ajegunle Junction-Sango-Adabo Road and the road to the Okerete International Border Market.

Ekiti Expends N16.5bn on Airport Project Makinde: Saki’s Economy ‘ll Lift Ifedapo, Irepo Federal Constituencies

GbengaSodeindeinAdoEkiti

Ekiti state government has so far expended N16.5 billion on the state cargo airport that is still under construction.

The Special Adviser to Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State on Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management, Niyi Adebayo revealed.

He disclosed further that the state had allocated funds in the 2023 budget for the procurement of navigational aids and lighting equipment, completion of the departure and arrival lounge for the airport to commence full operations.

The special Adviser disclosed further that the sum of N16.5 billion so far utilised on the project was used for perimeter fencing, completion of the runway and taxiway, terminal building and payment of compensation for the farmers who whose farmland were acquired for the project.

Presenting the breakdown and analysis of the N113.5 billion 2023

budget in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, Adebayo revealed that despite the inauguration of the airport last year, basic facilities and equipment were still not in place at the facility.

Former governor ,Dr Kayode Fayemi alongside the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika had on October 15, 2022, inaugurated the agro-allied airport located along Ado-Ijan-Ekiti road amidst pomp and commendations.

But the governor’s aide explained that presently, only military aircraft could land in the airport, adding that the control tower , passengers terminal and runaway were yet to be fully completed.

Adebayo stated that the administration of Biodun Oyebanji was committed to growing the state’s economy and enhance prosperity with adequate provision in the budget, noting that funds for further work on the airport which was designed to airlift the agricultural potential of the state and stimulate economic growth had been earmarked.

FCT Director of Information Loses Mother Hajiya Hajara Suleiman (Tetu), mother of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Director of Information, Muhammad Hazat Sule, is dead.

She died on Thursday January, 26, at 81 at the IBB Specialist Hospital Minna, after a protracted illness.

The late Hajara Suleiman, who hailed from Gulu-Kandi in Lapai Local Government of Niger State, has been buried according to Islamic rites in Lapai town.

Her death has been described, in a statement, as a colossal loss by sympathisers, not only to her immediate family, Gulu-

Kandi, but to the entire Gulu Community and indeed, Lapai Local Government.

According to the statement, Hajiya Hajara, during her lifetime, was a committed, faithful housewife, dedicated worshiper of Allah, and a team player who loves all, irrespective of ethnicity and religious inclination. She was also a philanthropist.

She is survived by her centennial husband, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Vatsa, and eight children, amongst whom is the Director, Information and Communication Department, Sule.

2023 Elections: Nwodo, Itanyi, Back Ugwuanyi, Mbah A former Governor of old Enugu State and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and the former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Ezenwata Okechukwu Itanyi have expressed satisfaction with the performance of Governor Ifeanyi

Ugwuanyi in office and have declared their unalloyed support for the governor’s quest to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly on the platform of the PDP. The duo who are from IgboEtiti Local Government Area of Enugu State also expressed satisfaction with the profile,

vision, credibility and action plan of the PDP governorship candidate Dr. Peter Mbah and reiterated their support for his candidature.

They equally declared their support for all other candidates of the PDP and urged the people to come out en masse and vote massively for the PDP at the polls.

Speaking during the governor’s visit to Igbo-Etiti LGA, Nwodo disclosed that the massive turn up of their people was a testament to Ugwuanyi’s popularity and their appreciation of his administration’s remarkable achievements in the council in particular and the state in general.

UTME: Personal Email Compulsory for Registration from January 31, Says JAMB KuniTyessi in Abuja The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that as from January 31, 2023, no candidate would be registered without the provision of a personal email address.

Also, candidates are therefore advised to get their genuine e-mail addresses before proceeding for

UTME registration.

In a statement issued yesterday by the spokesperson of the Board, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Board has come up with the measure to ensure that best practices are strictly adhered to in capturing all relevant data.

The statement said: “The Board noted that this review of its advisory on the ongoing

UTME registration is to ensure that best practices are followed in the process of capturing all relevant data pertaining to the candidates.

“The Board added that the latest advisory aside from aiding in eliciting relevant and up-to-date data of candidates, is also imperative for facilitating the transmission of urgent and vital

communication to candidates cheaply and efficiently.

“Furthermore, the e-mail provides more flexibility in communication and is a more professional way of reaching out to candidates.

“Candidates are, therefore, advised to get their genuine e-mail addresses before proceeding for UTME registration.”

Container Accident: CIOTA Vows to Deal with Erring Motorists Sunday Okobi

The Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) has expressed deep sadness over the tragic occurrence of a container-laden vehicle falling on a commercial bus in Ojuelegba, Lagos last

Sunday where eight lives were lost while a lone survivor of the incident is still grappling with her life.

It therefore, vowed that all measures would be employed to checkmate the nonchalant attitude of motorists to traffic laws and regulations.

CIOTA in a statement signed and made available to THISDAY yesterday by its National President, Prince Segun Obayendo, said between 2013 and the present day, “we have recorded over 10 accidents attributed to articulated vehicles bearing containers in the country,

claiming lives and leaving many injured.”

Obayendo stated that the organisation is ready to collaborate with state governments and relevant agencies across the federation to ensure that these tragic occurrences are reduced to the barest minimum.

39

TUESDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Mourinho: Victor Osimhen is the New Drogba Tasks him to stop diving if going on transfer to EPL

Femi Solaja with agency report

Top football manager, Jose Mourinho, has compared Nigeria and Napoli's forward, Victor Osimhen, to legendary former Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba.

The Nigerian striker who is the leading scorer in the Italian topflight on 14 goals, scored a superb opener for Napoli as the Serie A leaders defeated Roma 2-1 on Sunday night.

Impressed by what the 24-yearold Nigerian has done since he

switched from Lille in the French Ligue 1 to Napoli, Mourinho warned Osimhen that his current style of play will not take him anywhere in the Premier League should he decide to accept any of the many offers on the table from England.

Osimhen is considered to be one of Europe’s deadliest marksmen today and the trio of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal have been speculated as likely destination for the striker.

After the game, Mourinho

admitted he would not hesitate to spend big money on Osimhen but warned the Napoli striker’s penchant for diving would prove to be seriously problematic if he moved to England.

“He is of the same level as Drogba, but Didier didn’t dive."

Mourinho said. "If Victor changes, then OK. I’d buy him if I was at a club with a lot of money. However, if he does go to England one day, he needs to change, because in Italy they put up with this sort of behavior, whereas in the Premier League, they’d come down hard on him,” warned the coach who has seen it all in most of the top

leagues in Europe.

Mourinho also confessed he told Osimhen about his concerns directly after the match.

“I told him that he scored a wonderful goal and needs to stop diving so much. His goal was fantastic, he did the same thing when we met earlier this season, so he’s a fantastic player. But he mustn’t dive,” Mourinho insisted.

Osimhen remains under contract in Naples until 2025 but the Partenopei's determination to keep hold of their prized striker is expected to be tested this summer, with Chelsea and Man United among the sides keen to strike a deal.

Algeria 2023: Nigeria, 11 Others to Know Group Phase Foes Tomorrow The draw ceremony for this year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations will hold tomorrow at the Cercle Nationale d’Armee in Algiers, capital city of Algeria.

Five-time world champions, Nigeria is one of the 12 countries whose names will go into the pot for the draw, as all participating teams get to know their group phase opponents for the tournament scheduled for 8th – 30th April in Africa’s largest nation.

Jose Mourinho (left) and Victor Osimhen shortly after the Nigerian international scored another world-classed goal against his team Roma on Sunday night

The Art Hotel Team, STL-Shoreline Go for Broke in the Open Cup Duro Ikhazuagbe As debutant The Art Hotel Polo team prepare for their second crucial game of the Open Cup against STL-Shoreline on Thursday in the ongoing 2023 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament, winning is uppermost in the minds of the four players in the squad.

The Art Hotel polo team is made up of Neku Edun, the first professional female player in the country; Sadiq Dantata +1; Mexican import, JJ De Alba +4; and Genaro Ringa, a +7 handicap Argentine

LAGOS INTERNATIONAL POLO player.

This ambitious team, playing together for the first time last Saturday, lost 13-6 to Trojan-Ark in a game that was full of great suspense and thrills.

But speaking yesterday at the Hotel ahead of their second game in the league format of the Open Cup, Alba who confessed to have fallen in love with Nigerian barbecue meat Suya and jollof rice, promised to ensure The Art Hotel Polo team

take something away from the game.

“Yeah, we lost our first game to Trojan on Saturday. It was the first time that we played. But now that we have had more practice sessions, we hope to win,” observed the Mexican who is playing in Nigeria for the first time. He is particularly thrilled by the quality of players at the Lagos International Polo Tournament.

Neku Edun similarly echoed the enthusiasm expressed by Alba. “On Thursday we will play better. We really want to win,” stressed Neku, the most visible female polo player in the African continent.

Dantata on the other hand is in a familiar terrain in polo. The game runs in the family with several of his siblings making great impact in polo. “Polo runs in the family

because I can’t remember the first time I rode on a horse. It was a very long time ago and I have been playing polo.”

While the Majekodunmi Cup is the toast of the trophies on display at this three-week long tournament, the six teams in the Open Cup namely; Leighton Kings, Trojan-Ark, STL-Shoreline, The Art Hotel, Wiltten Aviation (Port Harcourt) and Dangote-Sublime (Kaduna) are certainly looking forward to prove points.

According to the conditions governing the Open Cup, each team will play two games in the tournament. They will then be placed in an order of merit according to HPA rules. The runner up of the two leagues will play the Oba of Lagos Cup this Saturday. The winner of the two leagues are to play the final on Sunday, February 5 at 4pm.

All the 12 participating nations are now known: Algeria, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia, South Africa, Cameroon and Congo.

The 12 teams will be drawn into three groups of four teams each, with the four top-placed teams qualifying to represent Africa at this year’s FIFA U17 World Cup finals taking place in Peru later this year.

Abuja Lawyers Unveil Sponsor of 2023 Football League Alex Enumah in Abuja Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Chukwuka Ikwuazom, has been unveiled as the sponsor of the 2023 Annual Abuja Lawyers Football League.

Ikwuazom was unveiled at a gathering of lawyers, including participants and fans in Abuja, over the weekend.

Speaking at the occasion, the senior lawyer, who was also a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos branch, disclosed that his keen interest and love for the round leather game is behind his desire to sponsor the 2023 lawyers league.

Ikwuazom SAN, further disclosed that he has been involved in organizing football games since 2003 when the chambers he is working with initiated a yearly football tournament in honour of the chamber’s founding fathers, late Chief Olumide Aluko.

He also pointed at the health benefits of exercising and sports as another reason he decided to sponsor the 2023 league.

"As lawyers, the work we do is very tasking, meanwhile we live a sedentary lifestyle which poses a great risk to our health", he said, arguing that the tournament will help the lawyers exercise and

keep fit.

Besides exercising and keeping fit, Ikwuazom observed that such an event which brings players, supporters and football lovers together has great value and present opportunities for lawyers to meet in a much more relax environment and socialise.

Organisers of the event represented by Olujimi Olujide-Poko, observed that the football tournament which started with merely six teams and no prize money has grown over the years to become something lawyers look forward to yearly.

He said at the inception "men played for the glory, no prize money" because the idea then was borne out of the need to get lawyers interact and socialize without any formalities.

He however disclosed that 24 teams will be participating in this year's league which will kickstart ok on March 4and run till May 13.

"This year, female lawyers will play alongside the men," adding that while the prize money has been increased from N250k to N400k for the winner and that of second and third increased from N200k to N30k and 100k to N200k respectively for the male that of the female is now 200k, N150k and N100k for 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

WACOT Rice Signs Four-year Deal with Kebbi Beach Soccer

L-R: The Art Hotel polo team posing for photographs yesterday as they prepare to play STL- Shoreline in the Open Cup of the 2023 Lagos International Polo Tournament on Thursday

WACOT Rice Limited, the leading rice processing company and member of Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, has signed a four-year sponsorship deal with Kebbi Beach Soccer Association.

The Kebbi Beach Club (Kebbi Fishers), owned by the Kebbi Beach Soccer Association, is Africa's foremost beach soccer club.

The sponsorship deal with WACOT Rice Ltd as the official Food Partner is a boost for the growth of beach soccer

and, ultimately, youth development in Nigeria.

Last year, WACOT Rice sponsored Kebbi Fishers to the World Winners' Cup in Antalya, Turkey, organised

by Beach Soccer Worldwide, the world governing body under FIFA responsible for Beach Soccer.

Commenting on the partnership, the Chairman of WACOT Rice, Farouk Gumel, said the company was pleased with the progress made

by Kebbi Fishers in the past three

years, including their outing in Turkey.

It is this performance that led WACOT to enter the four-year sponsorship agreement.

"In our operations, we always ensure that we create avenues for the Nigerian youth to thrive.

Kebbi Beach Soccer Association, through Kebbi Fishers, has grown and received accolades across the continent. They have put Kebbi on the map. We are immensely proud of them and remain committed to supporting them to grow," Gumel

said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Kebbi Beach Soccer Association, Mahmud Hadejia, thanked WACOT Rice and TGI Group for their support for Kebbi Fishers and commitment to sports development in Nigeria.

Hadejia, who is also President of the African Beach Soccer Union and Coordinator of the Nigeria Beach Soccer League, said beach soccer in the country has received another boost with the sponsorship from WACOT Rice.

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

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Price: N250

MISSILE

NAFDAC to Christians, Muslims

“Your body has to have homeomistatic balance, meaning that the water level in your body must be enough to make your organs to function. Some people will fast for 10 or 20 days and drink only little water, the kidney is being punished.

Now, if you put chemicals in it, it triples in exponential manner, it damages the kidney because the kidney doesn’t have water to dilute and filter…” --- NAFDAC D-G, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, advising against long-hour fasting without water.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI INEC, CBN And The Weekend of Extensions O abati1990@gmail.com

ver the weekend, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) decided to extend the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (popularly known as PVCs) by an additional week. The PVC collection that was scheduled to end on January 29, was extended till February 5, according to a statement by the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye. INEC further extended collection hours by an additional two hours, from 9 am till 5 pm including Saturdays and Sundays. It was the second time within a month that INEC would extend PVC collection deadline. The Commission had earlier fixed January 22, 2023 as the deadline but it then decided at the time to extend the collection till January 29, with the period of collection said to be between 9 am and 3 pm daily, including Saturday and Sundays, at wards and local government centres. Similarly last weekend, Nigerians were informed that the Central Bank of Nigeria had also shifted the deadline for the return of old denominations of N200, N500, N1, 000 Naira notes which had been redesigned by the Central Bank of Nigeria - from January 31, to February 10, with a further extension for return of old notes directly to the Central Bank until February 17.

The INEC spoke on Saturday. The CBN followed suit on Sunday. The immediate effect was that many Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief with fresh expectations that they would be able within the period of the extension get their PVCs, and new notes from the banks. Apropos, many Nigerians have hailed both the INEC and the CBN for listening to the people’s yearnings and for adopting a pro-people stance in both cases. Some of the reactions have been over-laden with an overdose of saccharine. The original purpose of government and its relationship with the people is properly stated in Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution to wit: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government and (c)the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.” It stands to reason therefore that the government of Nigeria cannot introduce any policy or measure that inflicts pain and suffering on the people of Nigeria or compromises their safety and welfare. The Federal Government of Nigeria under the laws of the land, is allowed strictly to take steps or introduce measures that advance the people’s interest. To the extent that sovereignty belongs to the people – (“we, the people” in the Preamble of the 1999 Constitution), nothing may be done to inconvenience or inflict injury on the people; to do so would be a violation of the spirit and letter of the Constitution with regard to its fundamental objectives and the rule of law. It is therefore understandable that the country’s electoral commission and the apex bank have both reversed themselves, in the course of a weekend volte-face, and hence re-discovered the original purpose of government policy.

The pervasive consensus out there was that INEC’s insistence on a January 29, take-it-or-leave it deadline for PVC collection was beginning to look like a violation of Section 14 (2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution already cited. Before, during and even after the January 22 extension by INEC, most Nigerians complained about the pain and suffering that they were subjected to in their attempt to get their PVCs. The cards were simply unavailable. In parts of the country, INEC officials drove the people from wards to local government headquarters, only to be told that the PVCs were not available.

In some wards and local governments, especially in Lagos State, there were allegations of ethnic and religious discrimination. For more than two weeks, persons went to points of collection and they were turned back by unfriendly INEC officials.

The evidence in that regard soon flooded the social and mainstream media, in form of reports, live

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu accounts, videos, memes and reports of actual protest and threat of violence in INEC centres from Oluyole in Ibadan, to Oshodi in Lagos to Owerri in Imo State. It was obvious that the Nigerian voter of eligible age was in pain.

This was more so, as the point had been made repeatedly by the INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, at every opportunity at home and abroad, most recently at their neo-colonial outpost – Chatham House that the Commission was ready. Even with the attack on INEC facilities by unknown gunmen, the INEC Chair boasted that the Commission’s operations would not be affected. In Abeokuta where hoodlums attacked an INEC facility, he assured the people that INEC had the capacity to produce missing PVCs within 72 hours. The people have seen that these assurances have come to naught. Even the Osun Gubernatorial election that the INEC used to tout as concrete evidence of the assuredness of its processes has just unraveled with the Election Petition Tribunal raising questions about INEC technology and overvoting in 744 polling units in 10 Local Government Areas in that election. And yet since the return to democratic rule in 1999, this is meant to be an election like no other. The people have been no more determined to exercise their franchise. They see their inability to get a PVC, as an attempt by the state to disenfranchise them. This is why some people have threatened to commit suicide if they are not allowed to vote. This is why there is violence or threats of violence in PVC collection centres.

The matter is made worse by the fact that INEC officials have been accused of hoarding PVCs, and also deliberately asking for bribes before they could release voters’ cards. Videos have been circulated - of INEC officials, ad hoc, or formal, soliciting for bribes. This is scandalous. INEC cannot afford to have rogue elements among its ranks if it hopes to conduct credible elections. The least that can be said for now, 24 days to the February election is that the optics look really bad. The extension of the deadline for the collection of PVC would be completely meaningless and ineffectual, if despite the extension INEC officials on the streets are still giving the same excuses.

There is also the unresolved problem of students who registered in their various home constituencies during the prolonged eight-month long academic union strike but have since returned to school in distant places. Such students have been automatically disenfranchised. Even if they are willing to rush back home to get their PVCs, there is no guarantee that they can get the card, even after two weeks

of trying. There are also other constraints: fuel scarcity, the high cost of transportation and the deadly risk of travelling in Nigeria by rail, road or air. This is why it makes better sense for Nigeria to have a harmonized data system that makes it possible for Nigerians to vote with just one means of identification, not the 19th Century system that we still maintain for the identification of the electorate. Still, something has to be done about rogue INEC officials. Before now, INEC said it had arrested some of its official involved in the manipulation of the voters’ register. The same treatment must be meted out forthwith to those officials who are sabotaging the PVC collection process. Part VII of the Electoral Act 2022 deals with “Electoral Offences”. Section 120 of the Act specifically addresses the subject of “dereliction of duty” by “any officer”. Section 121 talks about “bribery and conspiracy”. Both sections of the Act prescribe stiff penalties. But nobody is enforcing the law! INEC is very long on promises and extremely short in execution!

As it is with INEC with regard to the distribution and release of PVCs, so it is with the CBN and collection of old notes through the banks and the release of new denomination notes of N200, N500, and N1, 000. Two days before the volte face, the CBN had been most adamant in stating that there would be no extension of the deadline because it had acted perfectly within the law which is of course true within the purview of the relevant provisions of the CBN Act of 2007 – Sections 2(b), 17, 18, 19, and 20 (1) thereof which read together grant the CBN the powers to design monetary policy, print and redesign, and even change currency, with recourse in stated instances to the President of Nigeria in Section 19 of the same Act. In all that it did, the CBN had the support of the President in addition to the fact that the enabling law grants it the Independence to determine monetary policy.

Further, the 90 days window for the return of old denominations in circulation was within the purview of the law. So why did the CBN change its mind?

Why did it bow to pressure that came from all directions including the Presidential candidates of the two main political parties – PDP and APC, the National Assembly and the generality of Nigerians who felt that the policy was punitive in execution and that as established earlier no policy should violate the security and welfare of the people?

Whereas the CBN pointed out that the naira redesign policy was in the best interest of the people, to check terrorism financing, counterfeiting, imbalances in the fiscal space with about N2.7 trillion out of the N3.23 trillion in circulation in people’s homes, and abuse of the Naira, Nigerians felt that the suffering induced by the policy was undeserved. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele reported that more than N1.9 trillion had been returned to the system with a success rate of over 75% but in return the people could not get the new notes! By weekend, with the deadline of January 31 approaching, the banks still dispensed old notes!

The CBN kept saying that it had released more than enough new notes but they were nowhere to be found either in banking halls or at ATM machines, except in the hands of merchants of new naira notes at social events and party centres and in the hands of their patrons who continued in open defiance of the law (section 21 of the CBN Act which appears to be a dead law) to the discomfiture of many Nigerians who watched in disbelief at the effect of a wonky, disconnected process. By January 26, churches and many retail outlets had put out the message that they would no longer collect old notes in the affected denominations.

In many churches, last Sunday, ushers were told not to ever allow anybody drop old notes into the offering collection bag. Not even the toddlers in Sunday School were spared. They were instructed in one church that I know to take old notes back to their parents. Bureau de change operators all said they had no new Naira notes, not even the ones that were not redesigned. In many ATMs across the country, able-bodied men took the matter into

their hands, and engaged in fisticuffs over access to the very few ATMs that dispensed new notes. It didn’t matter that no ATM could dispense anything more than N20, 000 at a time.

By Monday morning, there was violence in some banks caused by the long queues of customers looking for money. In some parts of Nigeria, even wedding ceremonies could not hold because nobody was going to accept old notes as bride price! In rural areas, the under-banked population for whom the CBN introduced a cash swap policy decided to wait and see. No matter how well-meaning the CBN could have been, its policy was going to result in a break-down of law and order. The advertised extension till February 10 is most expedient. It came as a big relief to aggrieved Nigerians. But will they get the new notes?

The CBN Governor has been shown on tape reporting that the heads of the CBN, EFCC, ICPC, the Nigeria Financial intelligence Unit, the DSS and other security agencies have held a meeting and resolved to work together to apprehend persons who are sabotaging CBN guidelines on the naira redesign policy. Indeed yesterday, the DSS arrested some organized syndicates selling new Naira notes.

I hope some bank managers were among those arrested. The security agencies should also take a close look at CBN officials because this kind of open sabotage and effrontery cannot take place without collusion at the highest levels. INEC officials are selling PVCs! Bankers are selling new Naira notes! We live in a country where whatever policy the government comes up with, there will always be persons who are determined to circumvent the policy for profit motives. This is the problem with Nigeria. The CBN extension would only be meaningful if the people can get new notes.

There is the additional matter that has been raised by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee led by Hon Al Hassan Doguwa on the matter. The lawmaker says the House is determined to issue a warrant of arrest for the CBN Governor, because the CBN has broken the law and the Governor is refusing to appear before the House. Both Doguwa and the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamiala, insist that the CBN has violated Section 20(3) of the CBN Act, and that under Section 89(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Order 19(2) of the Standing Orders of the House, they have the right to ask that the CBN Governor be arrested by the Inspector General of Police. I sincerely believe that the House of Representatives is grandstanding. They can issue a warrant of arrest as they did a resolution, but the effect may be no more than symbolic. The police that should arrest the CBN Governor reports directly to the President of Nigeria – Sections 215 and 216 of the Constitution. The same President that has taken personal ownership of all that the CBN has done.

In days to come, some persons may go to court to seek an interpretation of Section 20(3) and Section 22 of the CBN Act, and throw up more conundrums, but the problem is that our laws are often so woolly that anybody can cherry pick as convenient and avoid a community reading that is recommended as standard practice. Our laws need to be more specific and categorical. But has the CBN not anticipated and side-stepped that possible controversy by granting an additional seven days for the return of old notes to the Central Bank? I think it has.

Finally, it is worth noting that in November 2016, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a similar policy to take “black money” out of circulation in India. The government gave only a four-hour notice for the withdrawal of all 1,000 rupees and 500 rupees. It caused confusion because it came as a shock. It was shrouded in secrecy. New notes were scarce. There were queues all over India. Modi held his ground. He said he needed to fight tax evasion and corruption. The people endured the hardship. He got away with it.

The only difference is that the Indians trusted their government. Nigerians have learnt to doubt their own government. This is the crux of the matter.

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